Frailty and Dementia Level 6 (Health CPD)

Key Details

Module Cost: £1,110
Further Information: fmh.cpd@uea.ac.uk

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Module Overview / Introduction

This 20-credit, Level 6 module has been developed in the light of learning criteria associated with NHSE’s Advanced Clinical Practice in Older People Curriculum Framework (2022) alongside their Advanced Practice Credential Specification Community Rehabilitation for Healthy Ageing (2022). The aim of these Curriculum Framework and Credential Specification documents is to support the delivery of high quality, evidence-based services across disciplines, which support and promote older people’s health, wellbeing, independence, and enablement in the context of complex health conditions such as dementia, frailty and their associated syndromes.

Undertaking this module will enable practitioners to provide assessments and interventions with older people using contemporary evidence-based approaches, such as the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (British Geriatrics Society, 2020). Throughout the module there will be an emphasis on person-centred communication, empathic and holistic approaches to assessment, and the provision of inclusive and culturally sensitive interventions and care, built on a compassionate understanding of the older person’s lived experience. There is also an emphasis on developing services to enable older people to live well to the end of life, making quality of life a priority, right up to the end of life.

Key topics and areas of practice addressed within the module include a critical consideration of frailty, risk assessments and falls, effective communication and the understanding of distress in people living with dementia as an expression of unmet need, alongside palliative care for older people living with dementia or frailty, where the trajectory of illness can be so uncertain.

A recognition of the need for Advance Care Planning, alongside shared decision-making and positive risk management with people living with dementia, as well as including unpaid care partners and multi-agency working, emphasise the need for excellence in communication in all these interactions.

As part of the module students will have the opportunity to explore a range of therapeutic interventions and strategies for communication that support living well with dementia and frailty. The module will encourage students to reflect on their own practice in order to identify areas for improvement, and to consider new ways of working which reflect relevant contemporary evidence arising from research, theory and evaluation of practice.

Module Introduction: 29/04/25 10-12noon

Online Module Content Block Release Dates:

28/04/25, 12/05/25, 26/05/25, 09/06/25, 23/06/25, 07/07/25

Live Online Tutorials:

13/05/25, 27/05/25, 10/06/25, 24/06/25, 08/07/25 all 10-11am

Live Online Webinar:

06/05/25, 20/05/25, 03/06/25, 17/06/25, 01/07/25, 15/07/25 all 10-12pm

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

Critically analyse evidence from policy, guidance and research, in relation to contemporary understandings of frailty and dementia, including factors influencing the ability of individuals to live well with these syndromes in a range of contexts of care.
Use enhanced knowledge and understanding of the lived experience of frail older people and those living with dementia including awareness of how to adapt social, emotional, sensory and physical aspects of care environments, to enable optimum care delivery, functional independence and comfort.
Demonstrate understanding of the need for enhanced communication skills for working with frail older people and those living with dementia, to meet need to reduce distress and ill-being, as well as to promote wellbeing.
Critically discuss strategies to appropriately manage the physical care of people living with frailty or dementia syndromes, through for example, evidence-based management of nutrition, hydration, elimination and mobility within the context of multimorbidity.
Use enhanced knowledge of practice with older people to assess, formulate, plan, implement, and critically analyse care plans and specialist interventions for and with people living with dementia and/or frailty.
Identify and critically discuss key facets of palliative and end-of-life care for older people living with frailty and dementia, including expertise and awareness of advance and anticipatory care planning.

Teaching & Assessment

Teaching
· Online – 6 block release dates
· Independent Study
- Fortnightly tutorials alternating with fortnightly interactivce seminars
Assessment
· A case-based study, literature review and discussion analysing evidence-based practice in relation to frail older person or someone living with dementia

How to Apply / Disclaimer

To apply for this as a single module as part of your Continuing Professional Development please enter the application system via Professional Development section.

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules and regular (five-yearly) review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff or sabbatical leave. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will endeavour to inform students.

Every effort has been made to provide information that is current and accurate. Nevertheless, inadvertent errors in information may occur. The information contained in this webpage has been supplied from a variety of sources, and is subject to change. Please ensure you check all module information and timetable provided through the official student information systems.