Utilizing a series of cases, participants will demonstrate newly acquired skills in the recognition and diagnosis of dementia in CNF residents. Participants also need to demonstrate the ability to understand how dementia contributes to many of the major CMS healthcare deficiencies seen in KY CNFs and explain the KY OIG regulations including Medical Director Responsibilities...

Faculty

• Gregory A. Jicha , MD, PhD
• Michelle R. Mitchell , RN, BSN, RAC-CT

Dementia with Lewy Bodies is a common but under recognized form of dementia. Lack of education regarding the clinical diagnosis results in under-diagnosis of this disorder and suboptimal treatment of these patients

Pervasive dogma in the field suggests that such differentiation is not important for healthcare decisions. Furthermore, the focus of care is focused on the...

Faculty

• Gregory A. Jicha , MD, PhD
• Jonathan Graff-Radford , MD
• Leah K. Forsberg , PhD

Co-morbid chronic health conditions may be responsible for the appearance of dementia or sudden changes in cognitive, behavioral, and psychiatric symptoms of disease. Such disease states are often overlooked and go untreated as the worsening or appearance of symptoms is erringly attributed to the underlying dementia state. Recognizing and treating co-morbid medical...

Faculty

• Gregory A. Jicha , MD, PhD
• Elaine R. Peskind , MD

Older adults and those with medical conditions, such as cognitive impairment and dementia have demonstrated increased risk of morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19. Certified nursing facilities are experiencing drastic effects due to confined spaces and vulnerable populations. Increased recognition and implementation of best-practices in hygiene,...

Faculty

• Gregory A. Jicha , MD, PhD
• Marie B. Smart , SW, BA
• Kevin W. Hatton , MD, FCCM
• Amy E. Richardson , RN, MSN

Maintenance of nutritional intake is critical for optimal health and wellbeing. As dementia progresses, alterations in feeding behaviors can be problem-atic. Considerations of alternative modes of nutritional supplementation including feeding tubes can be major issues for residents, family members and CNF staff. Education of medical professionals regarding issues of appetite, food...

Faculty

• Gregory A. Jicha , MD, PhD
• Erica Musgrave , MS, CCC-SLP
• Gayatri Devi , MD, MS

Both normal aging and many degenerative dementias can produce significant changes in motor function that limit activities of daily living and increase dependence on healthcare staff in residential facilities. Parkinsonism and stroke-related deficits are seen commonly in the aged with dementia. Awareness of such comorbidities and the development of appropriate treatment plans for...

Faculty

• Gregory A. Jicha , MD, PhD
• Anne Harrison , PhD,PT
• Ryan Townley , MD

Elder abuse in the form of forced compliance with daily cares such as bathing and dressing, catheterization, or neglect in the form of failure to achieve hygiene or manage incontinence in aged persons with dementia in residential care facilities is a major problem for CNFs today.

Faculty

• Gregory A. Jicha , MD, PhD
• Marie B. Smart , SW, BA

Addressing end-of-life issues and the provision of Hospice care has been shown to provide numerous benefits to patients and their families including but not limited to: pain and symptom management, quality of life for the patient, medical care consistent with a patient’s goals, preferences and values, caregiver well-being. Irrespective of hospice referral, understanding the...

Faculty

• Gregory A. Jicha , MD, PhD
• Jessica McFarlin , MD

The very existence of the CMP program highlights the fact that KY CNFs are deficient in education and practical solutions to address CMS deficiencies that lead to reduced quality of care for CNF resi-dents in KY. Reinforcement of the advanced training provided in the prior modules as well as a conceptual model for integration of the tools provided for the development of CMS Long...

Faculty

• Marie B. Smart , SW, BA
• Keith R. Knapp , PhD
• Tonya Cox , MSW LNAH
• Adam Mather , RN

Recognition of chronic and even acute pain in patients with dementia is problematic given the many ways pain can manifest in persons that are unable to express their symptoms.

Faculty

• Gregory A. Jicha , MD, PhD
• Nancy J. Stiles , MD