Overview

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This eLearning activity is designed to increase awareness of commonly occurring mental health issues in older people living in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF), to enhance health professionals’ ability to identify and respond appropriately to mental health concerns. It is designed for the broad range of non-mental health trained workers who work with older people within residential aged care settings (e.g., registered nurses, physiotherapists, audiologists, speech pathologists, dieticians, peer workers). 

The activity provides information about the ageing process, navigating the aged care system and residential aged care setting, commonly occurring mental health issues in older people and common comorbid issues, and an overview of the evidence-based psychological interventions that are effective in the treatment of mental health issues in older people. 

The activity comprises of three modules: 

1. Introduction to ageing, 

2. Working in residential aged care facilities, and

3. Mental health issues and effective treatments.

Level of Learning

Foundational. This activity is targeted to those new to the topic.

Duration of access

Access to this eLearning activity is for 6 months from the date of confirmed registration. Please note that access cannot be extended, and participants should plan to complete the activity within this period.

APS CPD-Approved

This eLearning activity has been assessed against the APS Standards for CPD activities and approved for its education quality. Learn more about the APS CPD Approval process.

You may also be interested in related eLearning 

• Applied mental health in residential aged care: Practical program for clinicians

CPD Frequently Asked Questions

Refer to the APS CPD Frequently Asked Questions for general and technical information when undertaking APS Professional development activities.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

Introduction to ageing

• describe the typical trajectory of ageing and common physical/functional, neuropsychological/cognitive, and emotional changes that occur during late adulthood and how these changes may impact on an older person’s health and wellbeing,

• recognise what constitutes “healthy ageing” and list factors related to the rate of decline and the potential contributing factors that promote and adversely affect healthy ageing,

• understand what is meant by mental health and its association with healthy ageing, and

• evaluate your own attitudes and beliefs about ageing and working with older people which may influence your practice.

Working in residential aged care facilities

• describe the broader Aged Care system,

• understand how the Aged Care Quality Standards apply to consumer care and quality mental health services,

• recognise the various roles allied health professionals may have when working collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary team within residential facilities,

• understand the types of experiences older people living in RACFs may have and name factors that may hinder or benefit adjustment to residential care, 

• evaluate the types of ethical issues that may apply when working with older people in RACFs, and

• become aware of effective self-care strategies and how these can be integrated into every day practice.

Mental health issues and effective treatments

• identify common mental health presentations among older people living in residential aged care, 

• identify biopsychosocial-spiritual factors involved in the development of mental health issues in the older person,

• recognise and appropriately respond to different mental health issues in the older person,

• describe the effectiveness of different psychosocial interventions for mental health issues in older people, and

• describe the process of care for mental health issues, including the application of person-centred care principles.