AC7075 - Enhancing the Care for Frail Older People

In this module you will learn through a combination of interactive lectures, seminars, workshops and directed study. The module will be delivered at Northumbria University by lecturers who are specialists in this sphere of practice. As practitioners you will be expected to actively engage in the learning process, participate in group work and seminars and apply what is taught in the university to your practice setting. You will be encouraged to share your own expertise and debate practice issues with peers to further enhance learning and influence the care you provide to patients. Technology enabled learning will be enhanced through your interaction with the Electronic Learning Portal (ELP) Blackboard Ultra which will give you the flexibility to access the module materials and aids remotely. You will be required to actively engage in research rich learning through an enquiry based approach to ensure authentic learning.

You will be supported by the module leader and module team who are all specialist in in the care of older adults and gerontology. The module team will provide formative feedback throughout the module delivery and you will allocated an individual tutor for academic support for the summative assessment. You will be able to access both library and student support services for study skills support as required through the eLP, helpline and email enquiry services, details of which will be available on the module site.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:

1. You will systematically review and critically explore theories of ageing and the pathophysiology of ageing and frailty.
2. Critically explore personal and societal attitudes, values and beliefs which may impact upon ageing and older people, to equip practitioners to embed a more positive image of ageing in practice.
3. Critically examine a range of gerontological assessment and decision making skills and consider their application to practice.

Intellectual / Professional Skills & Abilities:

4. You will critically analyse the contemporary evidence underpinning the care delivery and management of frail older people.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

5. You will appreciate the complexity of caring for older people and critically examine and apply theory to practice settings.

Formative Assessment:

The formative assessment for this module requires the student to complete various exercises during the lectures and workshops.
Completion of the exercises will demonstrate the ability to:

• Research and critically articulate differing types of evidence; discussing with peers and teachers the relevance of the evidence.
• Work collaboratively within a learning community; presenting information to module peers in a variety of formats.

The student will be encouraged to seek formative feedback from both module tutors and peers before the summative assessment date which presents them with the opportunity to improve their evidence of learning through reflection and constructive feedback (MLO’s 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5).

Summative Assessment:
The summative assessment for this module requires the student to write a 3000 word critical reflection account that demonstrates the ability to contextualise and critically examine strategies which may be used to bring about a positive change in care delivery for older people and or their carers (MLO’s 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5).

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The module seeks to enable practitioners from a range of professional backgrounds and settings to develop knowledge and understanding of the complex needs of older adults including those living with frailty within the context of health and social care. You will develop competence in caring for older people across health and life continua and during significant transitional points: living well, acute illness, intermediate care, frailty, ongoing long-term care, to end-of-life. You will be enabled to deliver safe, effective and person-centred care by the development of robust clinical decision making through comprehensive evidence based assessments, including risk. You will be able to develop skills in the identification, assessment and ongoing management of frailty.