This talk will focus on the normal aging process in older adults. Specifically, the faculty will discuss hormonal changes, including changes in estrogen and testosterone levels. The faculty will also review physiologic changes and speak to how age impacts the circadian pattern of body temperature, cortisol levels, and sleep. Following this session, you will have a full picture of possible treatments—as well as their risks and benefits—for common symptoms associated with age-related hormonal changes.

Falls are a major cause of morbidity and serious health issues in older adults that can have devastating outcomes. Using real-world cases and audience participation, this lecture will discuss a hands-on approach to identifying fall risks, preventing falls, assessing patients post-fall, and treating older adults. Office-based balance and gait assessments that can be conducted in small spaces will be demonstrated. Evidence will be presented about updated recommendations on fall treatments, including simple recommendations to multi-level interventions that improve the care of older adults. Advice on selecting the right durable medical equipment (e.g., canes, walkers, rollators, wheelchairs, and scooters) and measuring for the correct size equipment will be provided. Very few people outlive their canes so many older adult patients use hand-me-downs, resulting in poor posture, gait instability, and additional falls. After attending this lecture, you will understand how to best care for your older adult patients who are prone to fall. Please note that any data, indications, and guidelines presented in this activity are current as of the recording/release on February 8, 2020, and they are subject to change as new information is published.

Primary care patients who present with cognitive change represent a clinical challenge. Delirium must be differentiated from dementia, as delirium represents a medical emergency. Potential causes of delirium, Alzheimer disease and other leading causes of dementia will be reviewed. Clinical findings, screening tools, diagnostic studies and potential therapies will be discussed.

In this session, the speaker will discuss some challenging diagnostic cases that primary care practitioners may face in their practice. These cases will feature interpretation of laboratory and imaging studies as well as encounters with rare diseases and conditions. You will learn which aspects of the history and physical exam are most useful to establish certain diagnoses, increase your awareness of certain uncommon but “can’t miss” diagnoses, and become familiar with clinical decision aids that improve diagnostic accuracy for certain common diagnoses.

What do primary care providers need to know about SSRI and dementia? Join expert faculty as they review important questions they get asked about these topics!

What do primary care providers need to know about PCPs in Diabetes, atrial Fibrillation, Mild Cognitive Impairment? Join expert faculty as they review important questions they get asked about these topics!

This session aims to refresh your knowledge and stimulate interest in performing a thorough and focused physical exam (PE), particularly in the geriatric population. Whether part of a Medicare evaluation or a routine office visit, the PE provides an opportunity to develop rapport, trust, and potentially to discover clinically significant findings that might otherwise have gone unrecognized. A series of brief scenarios will be used to illustrate important yet basic concepts such as differentiation between normal age-related findings versus indicators of worrisome disease processes and atypical presentation of disease. Now, Let’s Get Physical!

Polypharmacy results in medication overload for many patients with chronic diseases; it is especially prevalent in the elderly. A recent report from the Lown Institute refers to this as ‘An Epidemic of Too Much Medication.’ We will review the data behind this claim and discuss how clinicians can work to minimize such problems.

Evidence strongly supports a correlation between hearing impairment in older adults and decline in physical functioning. A recent population cohort study of older adults revealed that hearing impairment was associated with poorer physical function, reduced walking endurance, and accelerated decline. Join us while we discuss this evidence and how to apply it to your practice. You’ll walk away with strategies to promote hearing assessment and to help optimize physical functioning in your older adult patients.

Older adults who suffer from loneliness may be at risk of overusing medications prescribed for pain, insomnia, depression, or anxiety. Replacing these medications with social interventions may improve outcomes and help patients avoid adverse consequences. Join us as we discuss the importance of reviewing medications and assessing for loneliness in older adults to prevent adverse events and outcomes.

Join us as we discuss falls: a clinical issue that warrants regular assessment in adults over the age of 65.