Although educators face countless barriers created by the COVID-19 pandemic, innovative thinking has resulted in the offering of high-quality, interactive online learning. In this social distancing era, isolation is a real threat, especially for the geriatric population. The impacts of aging in a “normal” environment can be difficult to navigate, but the challenge is even greater due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and now is the time to talk about it! For this reason and many more, attendees said that the 100 percent virtual 4th Annual Geriatric Behavioral Health Conference, offered on October 1 – 2, provided “exceptional content” in a “very easy to use” format.
Offered as a partnership between Broadlawns Medical Center and Des Moines University Continuing Medical Education, the annual conference provides learners with the opportunity to engage with experts in their field about geriatric dementia and other mental health disorders that occur in older adults. The planning committee and speakers dedicated many hours of hard work and innovative thinking to transition to 100 percent virtual learning.
Leading the planning of the conference was Robert Bender, M.D., section chief for the Geriatric and Memory Center at Broadlawns Medical Center. In his role, Dr. Bender works to improve elderly patients’ health, well-being and quality of life, and he has a passion for sharing his expertise to improve the field of geriatric behavioral health. He is a highly praised speaker for past conferences and was featured for multiple sessions in 2020.
Taking into account the reported educational needs of attendees for past Geriatric Behavioral Health Conferences, the 4th annual conference included the high-demand topic of legal considerations in geriatrics, including power of attorney, guardianship and decision making. The learners said that this “incredibly important topic” provided vital information and will ultimately improve their patient care because “no one ever knows where to start” and this presentation “clarified the roles and responsibilities” for when guardianship enactment is indicated.
If you missed the live conference, the following recordings are now available on the DMU CME website.
- Beyond Medicine: Practical Strategies for Primary Care Providers
- Bipolar Disorder in Late Life
- Geriatric Behavioral Health Challenging Cases Panel Discussion
- Geriatric Behavioral Health Difficult Patients Panel Discussion
- Legal Considerations for Medical Providers Regarding Guardianship and Power of Attorney
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Psychiatric Care of the Aging Veteran
- Rapid Presentations with Algorithms: Anxiety, Depression, & Delirium
- Schizophrenia in Long-Term Care
- Spirituality in Geriatric Psychiatry
- Substance Use Disorders in the Geriatric Population
- The Aging Body and Brain
Save the date for the 5th Annual Geriatric Behavioral Health Conference, scheduled for Oct. 7 – 8, 2021.
