Long-Term, Post-Acute and Elder Care  Certification Training

Long-Term, Post-Acute and Elder Care Counseling

Counselors, social workers, nurses and family caregivers play pivotal roles in ensuring the holistic well-being of individuals who are aging or adjusting to a chronic illness such as diabetes, POTS, dementia or multiple sclerosis. This certification training is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to address the unique challenges faced by the patient, their family and you, the caregiver, while promoting health, dignity, and quality of life

In January of 2024, LPCs, LMHCs and LMFTs were added to the list of providers able to get approved to bill Medicare. The main goals of this change are to help reduce “chemical restraints” by addressing the issues underlying agitation and sundowning; reduce stress and related inflammation that contributes to worsening of diabetes, dementia and mood disorders and help older adults with aging gracefully in-place. 

No matter what your setting, you will interact with a variety of people with a variety of issues. While aging in place implies you are dealing with older adults, not all people in Long Term Care (LTC) or Post-Acute Care (PAC) facilities are older.

To be admitted to PAC the person needs to have skilled nursing services after a hospital stay for up to 100 days. You will encounter people of all ages in PAC.  People in LTC are not able to manage their condition at home.  Long term care can be in the form of an Assisted Living Facility (ALF), a memory care unit or a nursing home or skilled nursing facility.

Aging in place is the lowest intensity of care and services are provided in the person's home and on an outpatient basis.

Assisted Living Facilities provide care for people who cannot do two or more activities of daily living, which may include managing their medications.  In many states, memory care is provided at the ALF level, but that varies.  People in Memory care have advanced dementia and need to be on a locked unit to prevent wandering. People in nursing homes or skilled nursing facilities require a much higher level of medical care.

What Will I Learn?

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• Overview of Issues Facing Older Adults

• Age Related Loss as a Type of Trauma
• Overview of Issues in Post Acute Care
• Adult Caregiver Issues and Needs
• PIECES Transdiagnostic & Transtheoretical Approach to Assessment and Treatment
• Screening Tools in Long Term and Post Acute Care
• Grief and Complicated Grief in LTC and PAC
• Dementia: Causes, Course and Consequences
• Addressing Agitation in LT and PAC
• Hearing Loss
• Pain: Impact and Nonpharmacological Management
• Working with People with Diabetes in Post Acute or Long Term Care
• PostStroke Issues and Interventions
• Working with People with TBI
• Working with People with Drug Addictions in Post-Acute Care
• Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome
• Psychosocial Elements of Terminal Illness and Palliative Care
• Psychophysiological Interventions to Reduce Stress Related Physical, Emotional and Cognitive Issues
• Defining a Rich and Meaningful Life
• Motivational Interviewing & Understanding Resistance and NonCompliance
• Goal Setting, Frustration Tolerance & Expectation Management
• Behavioral Health Side Effects of Common Medications (and detox from)
• Behavior Modification and Tools for Monitoring Behavior
• Cognitive Tools to Increase Motivation and Change Thoughts and Behaviors
• Insurance Issues and Documentation Principles in PAC and LTC
• Elder Abuse Awareness, Identification and Intervention

This training provides not only theoretical knowledge but also practical tools, worksheets and strategies for addressing the multifaceted challenges of LTC and PAC settings. By completing this certification, you will join a cadre of professionals committed to improving outcomes and ensuring a higher quality of life for those in long-term and post-acute care. Register here