Reducing the Risk of Medication-Alcohol Interactions in Older Adults

Live event held Thursday, March 19, 2015, 1:30-2:45 pm Eastern Time

(First in the Mental Health and Aging Training Initiative, Series IV*)

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SERIES BACKGROUND

This fourth installment in the series of webinars initiated by the Geriatric Mental Health Partnership (GMHP)--an informal, voluntary group of diverse stakeholders which focuses on geriatric mental/ behavioral health care in the Commonwealth--aims to improve communication and service coordination between the mental/behavioral health and long term care systems to facilitate timely care for older adults in the most appropriate setting. 

Lack of adequate training regarding the complex needs of an aging population with behavioral health issues has been identified as an ongoing barrier to successfully providing community-based care for these individuals. Nine previous webinars have attracted a continuously growing audience, which attests to the unmet need for this type of training. In fact, in 2012, our webinars reached 600 senior service providers and in 2013, more than 1,300 professionals benefited from our online training. The webinars delivered in the Spring of 2014 successfully reached 955 senior service providers and staff.

As the aging population continues to grow, and use of State Hospitals as the site of extended behavioral health care continues to diminish, it is essential that community-based staff and providers be prepared for the rapid growth of older adults with behavioral health and dementia-related issues. This is a key issue for workforce development as the Commonwealth prepares for the future. Effective training enables staff to more quickly identify and address behavioral health-related issues before the older adult’s condition declines further or situations escalate to possibly becoming dangerous to other frail elders (or caregivers) nearby. It also helps staff distinguish between behavioral issues which can be safely addressed at the facility (or at home) versus those which constitute a true psychiatric emergency and might require inpatient treatment.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) initiative “to Improve Behavioral Health and Reduce the Use of Antipsychotic Medications in Nursing Home Residents” has made training even more urgent. Due to concern about potential harmful effects of certain psychoactive medications on older adults, particularly those with dementia, CMS has recommended staff training focusing on person-centered interventions to address problematic behaviors rather than relying on the use of medications. This training can ultimately have beneficial effects on the residents’ quality of life and functioning, in addition to enhancing the knowledge, skills, and retention of staff. All 3 webinars included in this proposal specifically address this initiative.

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WEBINAR OBJECTIVE

This webinar addressed medication and alcohol interactions in older adults and how they can have a significant impact on health and well-being as well as on other chronic health conditions. Thorough review of medications and open communication with patients can help to prevent these occurrences. 

The presenter showcased three case studies and several polls were issued throughout the presentations.

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INTENDED AUDIENCE

As with previous series, the proposed training program is intended for staff and students from many levels, disciplines, and settings (both facility and community-based), including staff involved in providing long term care (e.g., nursing staff and administrators), as well as behavioral health staff who work with older adults. Additionally, staff from Adult Protective Services, home health, adult day healthcare, respite care, area agencies on aging, Emergency Department staff of acute care hospitals, hospital discharge planners, and others serving older adults could benefit from the training.

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WEBINAR ACCESS

The live event was open to all and free for all. 

Attendees were required to have a computer with access to high speed internet (to view the slide presentation) and computer speakers OR access to a telephone.  Additional information was provided through the registration form.

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WEBINAR MATERIALS

The webinar was recorded and slides are posted on this page.  
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CERTIFICATES OF ATTENDANCE

Certificates of attendance will be issued a week after the event.  
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SUPPORTERS

This event is made possible through a grant from the Virginia Center on Aging's Geriatric Training Education Initiative and supported by the Riverside Center for Excellence in Aging and Lifelong Health, the Virginia Geriatric Mental Health Partnership* and the VCU's Department of Gerontology.

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PRESENTER

Patricia W. Slattum, PharmD, PhD, is Professor and Director of the Geriatric Pharmacotherapy Program at Virginia Commonwealth University.  Dr. Slattum’s teaching, research and practice interests are improving pharmacotherapy for older adults residing in the community and assisted-living facilities and the effects of medications and alcohol on cognition and function.  

She partners with a pharmacy located in a large retirement community to develop pharmacy practice models to provide care to seniors.  She serves on the Commonwealth of Virginia Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Commission (www.alzpossible.org) and as President of the Board of the non-profit Richmond Area Compassionate Care Pharmacy.  Dr. Slattum is Core Faculty of the Virginia Geriatrics Education Center (www.vgec.vcu.edu) and a member of the Alcohol and Aging Awareness Group.  She received her B.S. in Pharmacy, Certificate in Aging Studies, PharmD and PhD from VCU.  

She completed an NIH postdoctoral traineeship in drug disposition and aging at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

MODERATOR

E. Ayn Welleford, PhD, received her BA in Management/Psychology from Averett College, M.S. in Gerontology and PhD in Developmental Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has taught extensively in the areas of Lifespan Development, and Adult Development and Aging, Geropsychology, and Aging & Human Values. As an educator, researcher, and previously as a practitioner she has worked with a broad spectrum of individuals across the caregiving and long term care continuum.

As Associate Professor and Chair of VCU’s Department of Gerontology, she currently works to “Improve Elder Care through Education” through her Teaching, Scholarship, and Community Engagement. Outside of the classroom, Dr. Welleford provides community education and serves on several boards and committees.

Dr. Welleford is former Chair of the Governor’s Commonwealth of Virginia Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Commission, as well as a recipient of the AGHE Distinguished Teacher Award. In 2011, Dr. Welleford was honored by the Alzheimer’s Association at their annual Recognition Reception for her statewide advocacy. Dr. Welleford is the author of numerous publications and presentations given at national, state and local conferences, community engagement and continuing education forums. In 2012, Dr. Welleford was appointed to the Advisory Board for VCU’s West Grace Village project.  She is also the recipient of the 2012 Mary Creath Payne Leadership Award from Senior Connections, the Capital Area Agency on Aging.

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SLIDES



Download slides here.

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RECORDING
(you can enlarge the player size by clicking on the bottom right icon featuring four arrows).

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