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GERIATRIC PHARMACOLOGY: THE IMPACT OF DRUGS ON REHABILITATION AND FUNCTION IN THE ELDERLY

Jennifer M. Bottomley, PT, PhD, MS
Saturday, October 23rd, 2010
Sacred Heart University
Physical Therapy Department
7 Cambridge Drive, Trumbull, CT 06611
Phone: 203.365.7656

Course Overview:

This one day seminar focuses on physiologic and neuroendocrine changes specific to the elderly that influence their response to drugs - impacting function and leading to the possibility of drug-induced frailty in the elderly. Older adults are prescribed more drugs than any other age group in the population. Many medications have significant side effects that adversely impact functional and rehabilitation goals. Other drugs may actually enhance function and have beneficial effects acting to facilitate ease of movement, promote endurance or improve cognition and/or alertness. These pharmacological interventions will be reviewed from a systems-based perspective.

This course addresses the alterations in drug pharmacodynamics and the clinical relevance in the elderly. The effect of drug actions on the major body systems, including mechanisms of therapeutic and adverse effects, problems of drug interaction, and variables that modify their effects will be discussed. The focus will be on the drugs and drug regimes that are commonly used to treat cardiovascular, neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, cognitive, and other pathological conditions that affect the elderly. The effects that specific drugs have on function and on rehabilitation interventions will be discussed. The problems associated with nutrition and drug use will also be covered including dehydration. Drug misuse and abuse in the elderly will also be presented. Patient case studies will be introduced to provide examples of drug response and drug interactions with other drugs, nutrients, and metabolism that determine how pharmaceutical therapies can impact an older patient’s responses to physical and functional interventions in rehabilitation. This course qualifies for 7.5 clock hours and 450 instructional minutes.

Course Objectives:

At the end of the presentation, the participants shall be able to:

1. Describe the variations in pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic properties with aging.
2. Develop an understanding of how pharmaceuticals can lead to frailty from a systems approach and understand the implications of drug interventions on functional outcomes.
3. Identify commonly prescribed drugs and their mechanism of action and intended purpose.
4. Develop an understanding of how multipharmacy, polypharmacy, and poor nutrition impact functional outcomes in the elderly.
5. Develop an advanced knowledge of the anatomic, physiologic, motor control, and functional mechanisms of aging that influence drug effectiveness, are affected by drugs and may lead to frailty in the elderly.
6. Describe the concepts of tolerance, withdrawal, psychological addiction and physical dependence on drugs in the elderly.
7. Gain knowledge in specific adverse effects that have an impact on rehabilitative interventions.

Course Outline

• 7:30 – 8:00....................Registration - Continental breakfast
• 8:00 – 10:00..................General Principles of Geriatric Pharmacology: Pharmacotherapy in Clinical Care of the Elderly
• 10:00 – 10:15................Break
• 10:15 – 12:00................Drug Classes Commonly Prescribed in the Elderly: Pharmacodynamic Drug Interactions
• 12:00 – 1:00..................Lunch
• 1:00 – 3:00....................Pharmacotherapeutic Drug Regimes in the Elderly: Benefits and Adverse Effects
• 3:00 – 3:15....................Break
• 3:15 – 4:45....................Drug Misuse and Abuse in the Elderly
• 4:45 – 5:00....................Wrap-up/Questions & Answers

Recommended Reading:

Bottomley JM, Lewis CB. Geriatric Rehabilitation: A Clinical Approach. 3rd Edition. Saddle Back, NJ: Prentice Hall Publishers. 2008. Chapter 7: Geriatric Pharmacological pp 129-153. [ISBN 13: 9780131708266]

Ciccone CD. Pharmacology in Rehabilitation 4th Edition. Contemporary Perspectives in Rehabilitation. F.A. Davis, Philadelphia, PA. 2007. [ISBN 13: 9780803607798]

Panus PC, Katzung B, Jobst EE, Tinsley SL, Masters SB, Trevor AJ. Pharmacology for the Physical Therapist. 1st Ed. McGraw-Hill, New York, NY. 2009 [ISBN 13: 9780071460439]

Registration Form (print out and mail in)

GERIATRIC PHARMACOLOGY: THE IMPACT OF DRUGS ON REHABILITATION AND FUNCTION IN THE ELDERLY

Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________________________________________

City: ____________________________ State: __________ Zip: ____________

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Circle: PT - PTA - OTR - COTA - SLP

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Circle: MasterCard – Visa – American Express

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Exp. Date: _________________ 3 or 4 dig. security code: ____________

Name on Card: ______________________________________________________

Authorization Signature: ___________________________________________

The cost of the seminar is $299, including continental breakfast and lunch.

Please make checks payable to AllStar Therapy, LLC and send payment with this form to:
21 Waterville Rd., Avon, CT 06001

For questions call or email
Christine Ross • 860.331.1792
christine@astherapy.com

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