Dynamic Learning Online

DESCRIPTION

4 Contact Hours

This 4 web based course is designed for Introductory level professional guardians, care managers, case managers and caregivers who work with an elderly population. This course is also appropriate for rehabilitation therapists who want to learn about how various professionals serve the needs of elderly wards through guardianship.

Upon completion of the course, the Learner will recognize and analyze patterns in the culture, communication and conflict resolution strategies of older persons in their social environment. You will also be able to recognize normal changes of aging and identify several age related diseases including stroke, orthopedic conditions, and disorders of the eye, ear and mouth.

COURSE GOAL

To provide the learner with the opportunity to participate in a self-paced, interactive course on effective care of the older ward including (a) issues associated with individual characteristics and cultures of aging wards, their families, caregivers and environments, (b) changes that occur during the aging process, and (c) age related diseases.

OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, the Learner will be able to:

• Describe the importance of knowing the ward as an individual
• Identify various ways to determine the ward’s personal history and personal preference
• Identify the influence of culture in the caregiving relationship
• List physiological, social and economic changes that occur in the aging process and describe their implications for the caregiving relationship
• Describe clinical signs and symptoms of age related diseases

ACCREDITATIONS

Dynamic Group is an approved provider of continuing education courses by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). This program is offered for .4 CEU, Introductory Level, Domain of OT: Contexts, Client Factors, Performance Patterns. The assignment of AOTA CEU does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.

This course is AOTA approved for .4 CEU

NBCOT 5. PDU

This course is also approved by the:

• Center for Guardianship Certification
• Florida Board of Occupational Therapy for 4 Content Hours
• Florida Statewide Public Guardianship Office
• Texas Guardianship Certification Board

Author and Instructor

Orit Simhoni, PhD, OTR/L, GCG, NCG

A native New Yorker, Dr. Simhoni earned her BS in Occupational Therapy (OT) from New York University in 1974.  After living and working in Israel, she moved to Florida.  While working in the field of rehabilitation, she received her MS in Adult Education and Certificate in Gerontology from Florida International University.

While working as an OT assistant professor and fieldwork coordinator at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) in the (1995-2002), and research assistant to the Assistant to the President (2002-2003), Dr. Simhoni completed her studies in the NSU Conflict Analysis and Resolution doctoral program.  After completing her dissertation, “The Welfare of Elderly Florida Wards in ‘Nightmare Cases’: A Qualitative Inquiry,” she relocated to teach at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia (2004-2006) and Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Currently in Silver Spring, Maryland, Dr. Simhoni is the Educational Specialist, Guardianship Division, for Dynamic Learning Online, Inc. and a consultant for Living Solutions, Inc.  She provides direct occupational therapy services to adult and geriatric patients in multiple settings, and is teaching part-time in the Towson University Occupational Therapy Program.  In September 2008, Dr. Simhoni was appointed to serve as a non-lawyer Guardian on the Washington, D.C. Probate Fiduciary Panel and continues to research guardianship practice issues.

Over the years, Dr. Simhoni has been recognized for her professional contributions in the field of occupational therapy and has published and presented her work in occupational therapy, fieldwork, and guardianship issues.  She also holds two U.S. patents.

Teaching MethodS

Teaching Methods include: Course content delivered in a text format, pictures and graphics, case examples, live web links, references and resources, and the opportunity for email interaction with the instructor and fellow course participants. At the conclusion of the course, there is a Final Exam which requires a minimum passing score of 80%.

The presentation includes activities and quizzes to promote application to the professional’s own caseload. The opportunity for collaborative learning and networking with other professionals is offered through threaded discussions and email.