Alcohol, Medications and Aging
Learning Objectives by Module
Alcohol, Medications and Aging: What Everyone Needs to Know
After completing this module, users will be able to:
- Identify whether common statements about alcohol and medication
use, misuse and abuse in later life are myths or realities and
explain why
- Understand why alcohol and medication misuse and abuse among older
adults are important personal and public health issues
- Explain when alcohol can be used safely by older adults
- Identify changes that occur with aging that increase the danger
of misuse or abuse of alcohol and other drugs
Detecting Alcohol Abuse
After completing this module, users will be able to:
- Name common signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse among older adults
- Explain why standard diagnostic criteria are used and know the
DSM-IV criteria for alcohol abuse
- Describe the use of screening tools
- Name a screening tool designed specifically to identify alcohol
abuse among older adults
- Name a screening tool that can quickly be administered to determine
whether alcohol abuse should be suspected
- Understanding why and how to inquire about alcohol use and frequency
of use.
Patterns of Alcohol Abuse
After completing this module, users will be able to:
- Differentiate between three of the most common patterns of alcohol
abuse in terms of:
- Physical health effect and presentation
- Psychosocial effects
- History
Barriers to Recognizing and Treating Alcohol Problems
After completing this module, users will be able to:
- Name the major factors that may lead professionals to fair to
recognize or treat an alcohol problem of an older adult
- Name common signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse among older adults
- Explain how biases and beliefs about alcoholism and aging can
prevent recognition and give examples of these types of biases
Assessing Alcohol Problems
After completing this module, users will be able to:
- Name seven important considerations in conducting assessments
with older adults for alcohol problems
- Name six part of an assessment that should be included in assessing
older adults with alcohol problems and explain the key objectives
of each part
- Explain the relationship between alcohol abuse and other psychiatric
problems
Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment
After completing this module, users will be able to:
- Discuss important factors in considering alternate interventions
and treatment programs for older adults with alcohol problems
- Differentiate between types of treatment programs or interventions
- Explain the goals of prevention
- Understand the process of withdrawal from alcohol in older adults
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