Appendix H: Subject/Module outline for each subject in the program
Subject/Module Title:
#11 Cognitive Impairment & Mental Health
Issues
Subject Length:
35
(hours)
Subject Description (Suitable for School Calendar):
Personal Support Workers recognize that behaviours or changes in behaviour can be related to illness or other conditions, such as
cognitive impairment, substance abuse or mental illness. They identify factors that can increase the risk of suicide and recognize signs
of possible suicidal behaviour. They use approaches and techniques to assist consumers/clients with these changes or conditions in
keeping with the care/support plan and report observations to the appropriate team member. This module will introduce the student to
common psychiatric conditions (affective disorders and schizophrenia), substance abuse and cognitive impairment. The possibility of
multiple conditions such as Alzheimer’s Disease and depression will be discussed. The role of the family caregiver as well as the
importance of observation, documentation and reporting will be reviewed.
Textbooks/Manuals:
Mosby’s Canadian Textbook for the Support Worker - 2nd edition, 2009, Sorrentino,Wilk & Newmaster
Internet based Resources and Instructor Handouts
Alzheimer’s Disease – A Handbook for Care
Method of Evaluation (e.g., graded homework, quizzes, projects, final examination, et cetera; the type, number, and % value of each)
Type
Tests
Assignments
Number
% Value
1
2
60
40
Type
Number
% Value
Type
Number
Teaching Method (indicate number of hours on line after item):
Lecture
Supervised Practical (e.g., clinic)
25
10
Computer Based Learning
Supervised Lab (e.g., computers)
Seminar
Distance Education
Location:
Classroom/Lab (School)
Classroom/Lab (Off-campus)
Does the subject require a final examination or a formal evaluation?
Yes
No
If “yes”, indicate the pass mark ►___70_%_____
Practicum (Off-campus)
% Value
Appendix H – Knowledge and Skill OBJECTIVES
PSW Module #11 Cognitive Impairment & Mental Health Issues (35 hours)
* Excerpted from the Personal Support Worker Training: Outcomes and Module Outlines (with alterations by NACC) documents produced by the Ontario
Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and published by the Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA)
Knowledge (The key elements that a student is expected to know upon completion of subject)
Core Competency – 21. Understand Anatomy and Physiology
1. Know the structures and function of the nervous system, age related changes and disorders
Core Competency - 23. Cognitive Impairment and Mental Health Issues
1. Know changes in behaviour that may be related to psychiatric illness (i.e. depression, bi-polar affective disorder,
schizophrenia), forms of cognitive impairment or substance abuse.
2. Know of cognitive impairment.
3. Know comm. effects cog impairment/psych illness/sub abuse may hv on client’s perception/memory/
judgmnt/organizatn/lang/motor skill; know impairmnt in one area may not mean impairmnt in another.
4. Know factors that can increase risk of suicide in adults.
5. Know possible indicators of suicidal behaviour.
6. Know own views about suicide and examine how these views may affect the service provided to a consumer/client.
7. Know that behaviours are individual and often misinterpreted; know to ensure that she/he is aware of any diagnosis/assessment
related to the behaviour, identified approaches and expected outcomes.
8. Know that factors such as illness, fatigue, stress, sensory overload, pain, fear, frustration and depression that can further affect
the functioning of the person.
9. Know the environmental factors which can affect the consumer’s/client’s ability to function; know to adapt the
consumer’s/client’s environment to support comfort, safety and function.
10. Know the potential significance of their support; know ways in which they can support/respond to the consumer/client in
keeping with the care/support plan.
Appendix H – Knowledge and Skill OBJECTIVES
PSW Module #11 Cognitive Impairment & Mental Health Issues (35 hours) continued
11. Know the need for and importance of communication with the consumer/client; know to adapt communication to best meet
their needs.
12. Know to apply common encouragement and stimulation techniques to provide the consumer/client with the opportunity to
participate in activities.
13. Know when unexpected consumer/client behaviour requires an immediate response as well as a report to supervisor.
14. Know the definitions and corresponding symptoms that relate to acquired brain injury.
15. Know management and rehabilitation services for consumer’s/client’s of acquired brain injury.
16. Identify the signs of a stroke and possible physical, cognitive, social and emotional effects.
17. Know the role of the worker in supporting a consumer/client who has had a stroke.
Skill (the key behaviours that a student is expected to be able to perform upon completion of
subject)
Core Competency – 21. Understand Anatomy and Physiology
1. Identify the structures and function of the nervous system, age related changes and disorders
Core Competency - 23. Cognitive Impairment and Mental Health Issues
1. Identify changes in behaviour that may be related to psychiatric illness (i.e. depression, bi-polar affective disorder,
schizophrenia), forms of cognitive impairment or substance abuse.
2. Describe cognitive impairment.
3. Identify comm. effects cog impairment/psych illness/sub abuse may hv on client’s perception/memory/
judgmnt/organizatn/lang/motor skill; know impairmnt in one area may not mean impairmnt in another.
Appendix H – Knowledge and Skill OBJECTIVES
PSW Module #11 Cognitive Impairment & Mental Health Issues (35 hours) continued
4. Identify factors that can increase risk of suicide in adults.
5. Identify possible indicators of suicidal behaviour.
6. Identify own views about suicide and examine how these views may affect the service provided to a consumer/client.
7. Explain that behaviours are individual and often misinterpreted; explain how to ensure that she/he is aware of any
diagnosis/assessment related to the behaviour, id'ed approaches & expected outcomes.
8. Identify factors such as illness, fatigue, stress, sensory overload, pain, fear, frustration and depression that can further affect the
functioning of the person.
9. Identify environmental factors which can affect the consumer’s/client’s ability to function; adapt the consumer’s/client’s
environment to support comfort, safety and function
10. Identify the potential significance of their support; demonstrate ways in which they can support/respond to the consumer/client
in keeping with the care/support plan.
11. Identify the need for and importance of communication with the consumer/client; adapt communication to best meet their
needs.
12. Describe how to apply common encouragement and stimulation techniques to provide the consumer/client with the opportunity
to participate in activities.
13. Identify when unexpected consumer/client behaviour requires an immediate response as well as a report to supervisor.
14. Identify the definitions and corresponding symptoms that relate to acquired brain injury.
15. Identify management and rehabilitation services for consumer’s/client’s of acquired brain injury.
16. Identify the signs of a stroke and possible physical, cognitive, social and emotional effects.
17. Identify the role of the worker in supporting a consumer/client who has had a stroke.
Appendix H - SUBJECT/MODULE OUTLINE
Time
Main Topic
Sub-Topics
PSW Module #11 Cognitive Impairment & Mental Health Issues (35 hours)
Relative
Value in %
9%
35 Hours
3 hours
1.
Nervous System
(a) Nerve tissue (neurons, nerve fibers, myelin sheath)
(b) Neurotransmitters
(c) Brain
• structure and function of the ventricles, medulla oblongata, pons, midbrain, cerebellum,
hypothalamus, thalamus, and the cerebrum including the lobes (frontal, parietal,
temporal, occipital), association areas, basal ganglia and corpus callosum
(d) Meninges and Cerebrospinal Fluid
(e) Structure and Function of the:
• central nervous system
• peripheral nervous system
• autonomic nervous system
(f) Age Related Changes
4 hours
2.
Nervous System Disorders
(a) Overview of the following diseases/disorders including causes, signs and symptoms,
treatment:
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Shingles
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Cerebrovascular Accident
• Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis
• Aphasia
• Bell’s Palsy
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Meningitis
(b) Caring for Consumers/Clients with Nervous System Disorders
11%
Appendix H - SUBJECT/MODULE OUTLINE
Time
10 hours
Main Topic
Sub-Topics
3.
PSW Module #11 Cognitive Impairment & Mental Health Issues (35 hours)
Mental Health Issues
(a) Basic Concepts and Definitions
• mental health
• cognitive impairment
• stigma
• mental illness
• delusion (name types)
• phobia
• neurosis
• psychosis
• stress
• affect
• anxiety
(b) Causes of Mental Illness
(c) Personality Development
• conscious, subconscious, unconscious
• Sigmund Freud (id, ego, superego)
(d) Factors Affecting Mental Health – illness. Fatigue, medication, stress, sensory overload, pain,
fear, frustration, depression, environment, personal history, poverty
(e) Defense Mechanisms - compensation, conversion, denial, displacement, identification,
projection, rationalization, reaction formation, regression, repression
(f) Anxiety Disorders
• signs and symptoms
• panic disorder
• phobic disorders
• obsessive-compulsive disorder
(g) Schizophrenia
• definition
• signs and symptoms
Relative
Value in %
28%
Appendix H - SUBJECT/MODULE OUTLINE
Time
Main Topic
Sub-Topics
PSW Module #11 Cognitive Impairment & Mental Health Issues (35 hours)
Mental Health Issues (continued)
(h) Affective Disorders
• signs and symptoms of depression
• bipolar disorder
• major depression
(i) Personality Disorders
• abusive
• paranoid
• antisocial
(j) Eating Disorders
• anorexia nervosa
• bulimia
• PICA
(k) Substance abuse
• commonly abused substances (alcohol, narcotics, stimulants, depressants, cannabis,
hallucinogens, anabolic steroids)
(l) Suicide
• risk factors
• indicators of
• response to
(m) Treatment Therapies and Support Services for Mental Illness
• care plan terminology related to mental health issues
• responding to a consumer/client with mental health issues
• supporting a consumer/client with mental health issues
• encouragement techniques
• communicating with a consumer/client with mental health issues
• observing and reporting behaviors
Relative
Value in %
Appendix H - SUBJECT/MODULE OUTLINE
Time
10 hours
Main Topic
Sub-Topics
4.
PSW Module #11 Cognitive Impairment & Mental Health Issues (35 hours)
Confusion and Dementia
(a) Basic Concepts and Definitions
• confusion (acute and chronic)
• dementia
• delirium
• delusion
• hallucination
• pseudo dementia
• sun downing
(b) Dementia
• early warning signs
• types and causes
• sexuality and the “older” adult with dementia
(c) Caring for the Confused Person - communication strategies, comfort and safety measures
(d) Treatment Therapies and Support Services for Confusion, Dementia and Unresolved Loss
• Reality Orientation
• Validation Therapy
• GLASSER Choice Theory
• adapting the consumer’s/client’s
(e) Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)
• definition, signs and symptoms
• behaviors (wandering, sun downing, hallucinations, delusions, catastrophic reactions,
agitation, restlessness, aggression, combativeness, screaming, abnormal sexual behaviors,
repetitive behaviors)
• stages and care of the person with AD
(f) Overview of Huntington’s Disease and Pick’s Disease
(g) Management of Aggressive Behavior in Persons with Dementia
• causes of aggression
• best practices
• behaviour management techniques
• dealing with aggression directed at the caregiver
Relative
Value in %
28%
Appendix H - SUBJECT/MODULE OUTLINE
Time
Main Topic
Sub-Topics
PSW Module #11 Cognitive Impairment & Mental Health Issues (35 hours)
Relative
Value in %
5 hours
5.
Acquired Brain Injury
(a) Definition and Symptoms
• cognitive function
• emotional function
• behaviour function
• physical function
(b) Causes and Types
(c) Diagnostic Procedures
(d) Impact on Family
(e) Management and Rehabilitative Services
(f) Ongoing Concerns
15%
3 hours
6.
Stroke
(a) Signs of Stroke
(b) Effects of Stroke
• physical
• cognitive
• social
• emotional
(c) Rehabilitation
• Heart and Stroke Foundation resources
• understanding the rehabilitation process
(d) Supporting a Client who has had a Stroke
9%