About this course: Health professionals and students, family caregivers, friends of and affected individuals, and others interested in learning about dementia and quality care will benefit from completing the course. Led by Drs. Nancy Hodgson and Laura Gitlin, participants will acquire foundational knowledge in the care of persons with Alzheimer’s Disease and other neurocognitive disorders.
Who is this class for: This course is aimed for health professionals and students, family caregivers, friends, and others interested in learning about dementia.
Created by: Johns Hopkins University
Taught by: Nancy Hodgson, PhD, RN, FAAN, Adjunct Instructor
Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
Taught by: Laura N. Gitlin, PhD, Professor
Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
| Level | Beginner |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
About Dementia
In this module, we introduce learners to dementia. We present a socio-ecological framework for understanding the live experience of dementia and by which this course is organized. We discuss the global impact, pathophysiology, and stages of dementia.
6 videos, 11 readings, 1 practice quiz
- Video: Living with Dementia: Course Introduction
- Practice Quiz: Myth Buster Quiz
- Video: Module 1 Introduction
- Reading: History of Alois Alzheimer
- Video: Alzheimer’s Disease A Brief History
- Reading: World Health Organization Dementia Fact Sheet
- Reading: The Pathophysiology of Alzheimer's Disease and Directions in Treatment (OPTIONAL)
- Reading: Inside the Brain: Unraveling the mystery of Alzheimer's disease (YouTube) (OPTIONAL)
- Video: Dementia-The Challenge of Diagnosis
- Reading: Alzheimer's Disease International: Diagnosis
- Reading: Alzheimer's Association: Recommendation to update diagnostic criteria
- Reading: The diagnosis of dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease: Recommendations from the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer’s Association workgroups on diagnostic guidelines for Alzheimer's disease (OPTIONAL)
- Reading: Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Management of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Disorders Associated with Dementia: EFNS guideline (OPTIONAL)
- Video: New Approaches to the Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease
- Video: Global Impact of Dementia
- Reading: 2009 World Alzheimer Report Executive Summary
- Reading: Dementia: International Comparisons (OPTIONAL)
- Reading: Dementia Care in 9 OECD Countries: A Comparative analysis (OPTIONAL)
Graded: Week 1 Quiz
Graded: Dementia Rates in your Community
WEEK 2
Impact on the Person
In this module, we focus on the impact of dementia for individuals. You will learn about common unmet needs of persons with dementia as well as the impact of core clinical features such as behavioral and psychological symptoms. Also, you will learn ways to support quality of life of a person with dementia.
7 videos, 10 readings
- Video: Module 2 Introduction
- Video: Personhood
- Video: Potential Interventions Across the Disease Trajectory
- Reading: Personhood
- Reading: Personhood in a World of Forgetfulness: An Ethnography of the Self-Process Among Alzheimer's Patients (OPTIONAL)
- Video: Identifying and Treating Behavioral Symptoms in Dementia
- Video: Support the Person with Dementia: The Role of Meaningful Activities
- Reading: Managing Behavioral Symptoms in Dementia Using Nonpharmacologic Approaches: An Overview
- Reading: Activities
- Reading: International Perspectives on Nonpharmacological Best Practices for Dementia Family Caregivers: A Review (OPTIONAL)
- Reading: Dementia: a public health priority (OPTIONAL)
- Reading: Importance of national plans for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia (OPTIONAL)
- Video: Palliative Care to Manage End Stage Dementia: A Patient-centered approach
- Reading: Late-Stage Caregiving
- Reading: Alzheimer's Disease: Help for Caregivers
- Reading: Hospice Care for Alzheimer's
- Video: Medication Use in Dementia Care
- Discussion Prompt: Unmet Needs
WEEK 3
Caregiving and the Home Environment
In this module, we expand our lens to consider family caregivers’ needs. You will learn the psychosocial impact of caring for a person with dementia and the role of stress. We provide examples of how to reduce stress, use the physical environment to support care tasks and well-being, and examine the potential role of technologies to improve dementia care.
7 videos, 12 readings
- Video: Module 3 Introduction
- Video: Living with Dementia as a Family Caregiver
- Reading: Caring for a person with dementia
- Reading: Dementia with Agitation (YouTube video)
- Reading: Rabins on Research: Is Alzheimer’s disease genetic? Do my children have to worry? (OPTIONAL)
- Reading: Late stage dementia home care: a caregiver from India shares her experiences (YouTube) (OPTIONAL)
- Reading: Extended Interview with Alzheimer's Caregiver, Ric Gomez (YouTube) (OPTIONAL)
- Video: Psychosocial Processes in Families Managing Dementia: The Stress response
- Reading: Stress Process Model for Individuals With Dementia
- Reading: Impact of the disease (OPTIONAL)
- Reading: Cultural Values and Caregiving: The Updated Sociocultural Stress and Coping Model (OPTIONAL)
- Video: Using the Physical Environment to Support Quality of Life: Psychosocial environmental processese
- Video: Home Safety - Part 1
- Video: Home Safety - Part 2
- Reading: Correlates of quality of life for individuals with dementia living at home: the role of home environment, caregiver, and patient-related characteristics
- Reading: World Alzheimer Report 2013 Journey of Caring (OPTIONAL)
- Reading: Environmental Perspectives on Ageing
- Video: Summary and Future Challenges: The Role of Technology
- Reading: Assistive technology - devices to help with everyday living
Graded: Case Study Quiz
Graded: Environmental Safety Checklist Assignment
WEEK 4
Module 4: Community Level
ln this module, we examine the community level. We discuss how the interprofessional team plays a key role in providing comprehensive dementia care. Also, we examine the concept of dementia-friendly communities and provide some examples from around the world.
4 videos, 5 readings
- Video: Module 4 Introduction
- Video: Assessing the Role of the Home and Community Environment in Supporting Families Living with Dementia
- Reading: Improving Quality of Life in Individuals with Dementia: The Role of Nonpharmacologic Approaches in Rehabilitation
- Reading: List of Alzheimer associations
- Reading: 8 Pillars Model of Community Support (OPTIONAL)
- Reading: Dementia Care & Support (OPTIONAL)
- Reading: Dementia care in developing countries: The road ahead (OPTIONAL)
- Video: Dementia Friendly Communities
- Video: Using an Interprofessional Approach to Dementia Care
- Discussion Prompt: Health care team particpation
Graded: Dementia Friendly Community Checklist Assignment
Graded: IPE Quiz
WEEK 5
Module 5: Society at Large
In this module, we provide an overview of national plans and policies. We identify elements of key plans and review the impact of such plans from a global perspective. You will also have the opportunity to develop an action plan that addresses an unmet need that you identify either in your home, community, or place of work.
4 videos
- Video: Module 5 Introduction
- Video: Overview of National Plans and Policies
- Discussion Prompt: National Dementia Plan
- Video: Action Plan Assignment
- Video: New Ways for Better Days
Graded: National Plan Quiz
Graded: Action Plan Assignment
FAQs
How It Works
Coursework
Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.
Help from Your Peers
Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.
Certificates
Earn official recognition for your work, and share your success with friends, colleagues, and employers.
Creators
Johns Hopkins University
The mission of The Johns Hopkins University is to educate its students and cultivate their capacity for life-long learning, to foster independent and original research, and to bring the benefits of discovery to the world.
Pricing
| Purchase Course | Audit | |
|---|---|---|
| Access to course materials | Available | Available |
| Access to graded materials | Available | Not available |
| Receive a final grade | Available | Not available |
| Earn a shareable Course Certificate | Available | Not available |
Ratings and Reviews
Excellent course. A course that is relevant, up to date and can benefit individuals with or caring for people with Alzheimer's. Easy to follow. It has been offered more than once and checking in again gives you the opportunity to learn through discussions and updates too. I highly recommend it.
Updated information, informational videos. A really good class for people wanting to know more about Dementia but also for people with previous knowledge about the disease, I feel that the course has something for everyone.
Buen curso para las personas que se están interiorizando en el ámbitos de las demencias.
Coursera provides universal access to the world’s best education, partnering with top universities and organizations to offer courses online.
© 2017 Coursera Inc. All rights reserved.
A clear and useful course about Dementia that everyone should take it!