Gerontology Physiotherapy Level 1 - Part A

CPD Hours

12

Course Overview

Gerontology Physiotherapy Level 1 aims to improve your knowledge and skills relevant to the physiotherapy assessment and treatment of common conditions of older people. It takes an in-depth look at the ageing process, chronic disease management, pharmacology and pain management, delirium, dementia and depression, falls and balance, strategies to optimise physical function and use of outcome measures. 

Part A is the first of three components to this course. Part A consists of eight self-paced modules. Each module contains an introduction to each topic, a list of recommended reading and an assessment. You must complete all 8 modules in order to progress to Part B.

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the full Gerontology Physiotherapy Level 1 course (Parts A, B and C), you will be able to:

• Develop an understanding of age-related changes that affect movement and differentiate these from chronic disease impairments
• Understand when and how to use common assessment tools of impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions that older adults have
• Demonstrate an understanding of the role of a physiotherapist in the continuum of care from preventative health to frailty
• Identify important evidence that supports physiotherapy practice in areas such as continence, falls, dementia, and depression and be able to utilise this in practice

Delivery Elements

This course consists of three parts, each to be enrolled in separately and completed in order:

1. Part A (12 CPD hours) 
   Eight online self-paced modules providing an introduction to each of the eight topics outline in course overview (above), including recommended reading and quizzes.
2. Part B (10 CPD hours) 
   Ten online self-paced modules, which includes videos and case studies to build on and give further context to the learnings in Part A.
3. Part C  (2 CPD hours) 
   A 1.5-2hr live interactive webinar featuring an extended application of case studies by the panel of course developers. This webinar will include discussions on some of the more contentious issues raised in the research and the practicalities of applying research findings to the aging population.  

Enrolment for all course elements is available through cpd4physios.com

Delivery Method Options

Learners can choose one of two ways of undertaking Gerontology Physiotherapy Level 1.

• Wholly virtual: online self-paced (Part A & Part B) and live webinar (Part C). This webpage is for Part A of the wholly virtual course delivery

OR

• Blended: online self-paced (Part A) and attending a face-to-face classroom course (Parts B & C)

Important note: if you have completed or wish to undertake the face-to-face classroom course, you are not required to complete Part B or Part C virtual.

Wholly virtual pre-requisites and progress:

Part A must be successfully completed before you progress to Part B.  Part B must be successfully completed before you progress to Part C

Diagram: two ways to undertake APA Gerontology Physiotherapy Level 1

Presenters

Dr Prue Morgan, FACP, APAM, Specialist Neurological Physiotherapist (as awarded by the Australian College of Physiotherapists in 2008)

Dr Prue Morgan is the Head of Monash University School of Physiotherapy and Specialist Neurological Physiotherapist (as awarded by the Australian College of Physiotherapists in 2008) with 14 years of academia after a 20 year clinical career working in falls and balance, acute neurosciences and RCH. She is interested in falls/mobility decline in adults with cerebral palsy (PhD topic), strategies to enhance physical health in adults with cerebral palsy and reasons for physical health decline in adults with cerebral palsy (hospitalisations). 

Dr Sze Ee Soh, APAM

Dr Sze-Ee is an experienced physiotherapist with an extensive clinical background in delivering physiotherapy services for older adults. She completed her Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Hons) in 2001 from Curtin University of Technology and was awarded a PhD from The University of Melbourne in 2011. Her doctoral research contributed new knowledge towards understanding how people with a chronic progressive disease perceived their life quality. She is currently overseeing the curriculum delivery of senior students in the Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Hons) program, and was involved in developing the physiotherapy curriculum for the Fatima College of Health Sciences in the United Arab Emirates.

Dr Melanie Farlie, MACP, APAM

Dr Melanie Farlie is a physiotherapist with clinical experience primarily in the field of gerontology, a health professional educator and researcher. Currently Lecturer and Unit Coordinator (PTY4282) in the Physiotherapy Department at Monash University, Melanie is also a titled Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) Research Physiotherapist and an Associate Fellow of the Australian & New Zealand Association of Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE). Clinically Melanie has provided physiotherapy services for adults in acute, subacute, community, and residential care settings, and developed research experience in balance exercise intensity measurement, scale development, Rasch analysis, and Interpretive Description.

Image: SK, Unsplash.com