CE Course Descriptions

Substance Abuse and Recovery

• This course starts by outlining the factors that characterize addiction. Students will learn statistics on the prevalence and risks associated with drug and alcohol abuse, understand circumstances that contribute to an environment of substance abuse, and identify people who may be vulnerable to addiction.

• Students will learn how to identify the stages of addiction to drugs and alcohol. We will explore the types of coping mechanisms used to attempt to hide or control substance abuse, and discuss how family dynamics, interventions, co-dependence, and genetic predisposition can all contribute to substance abuse. Additionally, we will examine ways to separate the person from the disease, and to learn skills for managing chemical dependency.

• To help providers recognize the stages of recovery, relapse, and find resources for help. Students will learn how best to support a chemically dependent person through recovery, and how to spot early signs of relapse. Discussion of media influences on substance abuse, as well as an opportunity to share success stories.

This is a 12 hour CE class and is offered on-line and in a classroom.

Understanding Diabetes: The Role of Exercise, Diet and Insulin

This class provides an overview of the role the pancreas plays in the digestion of food. We will also explore what insulin is and how it affects blood sugar levels. The class will also discuss how diabetes is diagnosed and treated, as well as the difference between Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes. The course will help caregivers to identify signs and symptoms of high and low blood sugar levels and actions to take. We will also identify elements that affect blood sugar levels, such as diet, exercise and insulin, to include the different types of insulin and a discussion of long term complications related to diabetes. Finally, we'll cover the importance of daily foot care.

This is a 12 hour CE class and is offered on-line and in a classroom.

Pain Control, Death and Grief:

• Pain Control: We will discuss the Anatomy & Physiology of pain, factors that can influence pain, how to describe pain, different types of pain, pain tolerance versus addiction, pain management, barriers to pain management, pain management in the elderly, medication used in pain management, and finally, last but not least, methods of pain control.
• Death and Dying: We will take a look at the changing views regarding death over the years. Student exercises will include discussion of our own views about death, what is a good death, the right to die, to include advance directives, the dying process and the caregiver's role in all of the above..
• Grief: We will identify how culture influences death & grief, healthy and unhealthy grieving, positive influences of the caregiver in the dying and grieving process, and of course, caring for the caregiver.

This is a 12 hour CE and is offered on-line and in a classroom setting.

A Practical Approach to Medications:

The class offers a review of medication assistance verses medication administration, a review of nurse delegation and self-directed care, medication delivery methods, a review of the 5 Rights to include pharmacy labeling, understanding the importance of reading the drug fact papers and warning labels, types of medication packaging, understanding the possibility of drug interactions between prescription, over the counter (OTC) and supplemental/herbal medications. We will also discuss the Signs & Symptoms of allergic reactions, the common side effects of various medications, documentation requirements, proper handling, storage and disposal of medications. We will also discuss common reasons for consumers to refuse medication and the responsibility of caregivers in those situations. Finally, we will discuss how to identify, record and report medication errors.

This a 2 hour Self-Study CE Course.

Alzheimer’s and Other Types of Dementia

 The class discusses the difference in dementia, delirium and depression. We will explore different causes and treatment options for dementia. We will delve into the challenges and approaches of communicating with a person with dementia. The class will look at the role activities can play in reducing, preventing and managing challenging behaviors. We discuss the challenges and different approaches in providing activities of daily living (ADL). The class will also discuss the importance in providing care for the caregiver.

This is a 10 hour class and is offered on-line and in a classroom setting. 

Senior Nutrition:

The material discusses the special dietary needs associated with aging, how the normal aging process can impact nutrition, the food pyramid and MyPlate information for older adults. The course offers information on challenges that may affect the elderly in getting the proper nutrients, how the caregiver can encourage good nutrition, the importance of food safety and hydration in the elderly. The course looks at programs in the community to aide older, low income adults as well as resources and other information regarding cultural diets.

This is a 2 hour Self-Study CE Course.

Skin: Our Natural Defense

   This class focuses on the basic structure of skin and what happens to skin when it is stressed and begins to breakdown. We look at how our skin changes as we age and the effects of the sun on skin. We will go into the effects of diabetes on healthy skin. We will discuss how skin breaks down, how to prevent pressure areas and what to do if the client develops a pressure ulcer. We will also look at different types of skin conditions.

This is 6 hour CE class and is offered on-line and in a classroom setting.

Brain & Spinal Cord Injury

• Stroke and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): This class will focus on the contributing risk factors and preventive measures for strokes. We'll discuss how to identify when someone is having a stroke, the different types of strokes and possible effects after a stroke. We will discuss ways caregivers can assist and help prevent secondary effects from strokes. We'll also take a look at the causes and effects of a TBI, discuss the residual effects of a TBI and what caregivers can do to help in the recovery process. This class is taught together with Spinal Cord Injury.

• Spinal Cord Injury: This class will discuss the risk factors for a spinal cord injury. We will look at the differences between primary and secondary injuries. Also, how the level of the spinal cord injury will impact the residual effects after the injury. We will explore assistive devices to aid a person with a spinal cord injury. This class is taught conjunction with Brain Injury.

This 12 hour CE class is offered on-line and in a classroom setting.

Dental Care: The Road to Oral Health

The curriculum follows the Washington State Dental Association training. This is a comprehensive look at the importance of dental hygiene and how poor mouth care can affect a person’s overall health. The class will look at strategies to help the caregivers provide mouth care for uncooperative clients. We will discuss the affects of diet on teeth and discuss different types of dental conditions and how to prevent them. This is an interactive class that allows the student to practice their skills on a dental model.

This is a 12 hour CE class and is offered in a class room setting only.

Heart Conditions and Diseases

In this class we will cover the anatomy of the heart and how it works. We will look at potential risk factors for heart disease. We will delve into the most common types of heart diseases along with their symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options. This class will look at ways to prevent heart disease through life style changes, such as diet and exercise.

This is a 12 hour CE class and is offered on-line and in a classroom setting.

Respiratory Diseases & Conditions

We will begin with how the lungs work in conjunction with the heart. The class will move to some of the major lung disease and conditions, such as, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Asthma, TB, Pneumonia and several others. The discussion of these different conditions will include their process and affects, risk factors as well as signs, symptoms and treatment options. We will also look at ways to protect the lungs through life style changes, exercise and diet.

This is a 12 hour CE class and is offered on-line and in a classroom setting.

CPR/First Aid/AED

This course takes the participant through the American Red Cross Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation class as well as First Aid. The participants at the end of this class will be certified in CPR/First Aid and the use of the AED machine through the American Red Cross. 

 This class is offered in a classroom setting only.

Professional Boundaries

Boundaries, Burnout & Abuse are the three major topics covered in this course.

• Boundaries: The class explores ways to maintain professionalism with clients while working with them closely in a home or small community setting. We will look at how the lines between personal and professional information can become blurred. We will identify what is healthy, professional information to share with clients and what constitutes personal information.
• Caregiver Burnout: Caregiving is sometimes a lonely and overwhelming job. We will explore the causes and symptoms of stress which can ultimately lead to caregiver burnout. We will help to identify signs and symptoms of burnout. We will discuss ways of preventing burnout. We will look at ways we as caregivers create our own stress. Students will take an interactive approach to identify their own sources of stress and how they might reduce the stressors. Students will be asked to rediscover the joy in their lives.
• Elder Abuse: We will discuss the all too common abuse of vulnerable adults. We will begin by looking at abuse in the general population, the causes, the different types of abuse and how to identify the signs of each type. We will go into the definition of who may be considered a vulnerable adult. Students will watch a video of five case studies of elder abuse.. Following the video, students will have the opportunity to participate in an open discussion of these cases. We will look at the caregiver’s role when there is abuse of vulnerable adults. This class is taught together with Professional Boundaries and Caregiver Burnout.

This is a 12 hour CE class and is offered in a classroom setting only.

Nutrition: Making Smart Choices

This course is designed to help providers guide their clients in making healthy eating choices. We begin by looking at how the body digests food and utilizes the nutrients. We will discuss the definition of calories, major nutrients, and the food pyramid. We will also look at portion distortion and how this impacts weight and nutrition. Students will use an interactive approach to identify and problem solve nutrition challenges for their clients. Together we will develop a healthy and balanced menu for the day.

 This is a 12 hour CE class and is offered on-line and in a classroom setting.

Understanding Developmental Disabilities

This class is the same as the 6 hour Population Specific Training: Understanding Developmental Disabilities, so that attendees may attend this valuable course and receive CE credit. This class is offered with the 6 hour Population Specific Mental Health course: The Balance of Mind and Body CE, in order to meet the 12 hour CE requirement.