Study Guide

Objective

The student can name the most important diseases that weaken the functional capacity of an older person as well as the consequences of changes caused by ageing.The student can describe factors affecting the physical and cognitive functional capacity of older people based on international scientific literature. The student can explain what factors are connected to premature impairment of functional capacity and, based on this skill, can lead interventions that maintain health and functional capacity. The student demonstrates an ability to assess the activities of individual older persons and groups of older people and to assess these people’s need for support. The student can name lifestyle-related risk factors for memory disorders and describe measures to promote brain health and reduce the risk of memory disorders. The student can plan evidence-based interventions to promote the physical and cognitive functional capacity of older people in different operating environments of geriatric health and social work.

Content

• The dimensions of physical functional capacity and supporting them from the perspective of the entire lifecycle
• Changes caused by ageing and diseases affecting the functional capacity of older people
• Lifelong brain health promotion
• Recommendations related to the physical activity and nutrition of older people and their application in different operating environments
• Evidence-based interventions to promote physical and cognitive capacity and their implementation

Materials

1. Publications by Age Institute
2. TOIMIA Functioning Measures Database guidelines and recommendations related to elderly
3. Original articles, reviews, publications and webpages that teachers assign later on

Teaching methods

Lectures and seminar as face-to-face teaching. Group work partly online. Independent studying and doing learning assigments (can be completed completely independently regardless of time and place in Moodle).

Employer connections

Possibly working life oriented tasks.

International connections

Written and visual materials in English are possible.

Student workload

135 hours of student work that consists of 2 days in campus, group work, self studyin and learning assignments partly in Moodle learning environment.

Evaluation scale

1-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The student can describe changes caused by ageing and the most important diseases affecting the functional capacity of older people. The student can name factors affecting the physical and cognitive functional capacity of older people based on scientific literature. The student can explain what factors are connected to the premature impairment of functional capacity and, based on this skill, can prepare interventions that maintain health and functional capacity. The student can name some lifestyle-related risk factors for memory disorders and describe measures to promote brain health and reduce the risk of memory disorders. The student can plan simple interventions to promote the physical and cognitive functional capacity of older people.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The student can use scientific literature to describe in a versatile manner the changes caused by ageing and the most important diseases affecting the functional capacity of older people. The student can name factors affecting the physical and cognitive functional capacity of older people based on scientific literature. The student can name factors that are connected to the premature impairment of functional capacity and, based on this skill, can manage interventions that maintain health and functional capacity. The student demonstrates an ability to assess the need for support from the viewpoints of both individual persons and groups. The student can name lifestyle-related risk factors for memory disorders and describe evidence-based measures to promote brain health and reduce the risk of memory disorders. The student can plan evidence-based interventions to promote the physical and cognitive functional capacity of older people by using the most notable national and international recommendations.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student can use international scientific literature to describe in a versatile manner the changes caused by ageing and the most important diseases affecting the functional capacity of older people. The student can name factors affecting the physical and cognitive functional capacity of older people based on international scientific literature. The student can critically assess and explain the level of evidence available on promoting functional capacity. The student can name a wide variety of factors that are connected to the premature impairment of functional capacity and, based on this skill, can manage interventions that maintain health and functional capacity. The student can name lifestyle-related risk factors for memory disorders, understand the limitations of scientific evidence and describe evidence-based measures to promote brain health and reduce the risk of memory disorders. The student can plan evidence-based interventions to promote the physical and cognitive functional capacity of older people by using national and international recommendations.

Assessment methods and criteria

The evaluation scale is from 1 to 5 and it is introduced in the curriculum.

Qualifications

No previous studies required