Faculty Information

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Course Description

Prerequisites

Special Conditions: Admission to the College of Health Professions MS in Health Science program and completion of prerequisite courses; or consent of the Department Chair.
Prerequisites: GEY 5005 .

Course Objectives

1. Discuss the demographics of the aging population and its impact on health and wellness of older adults.
2. Describe the normal and abnormal physical, sensory, and cognitive changes in aging. 
3. Identify, describe, and explain the role of lifestyle factors and behaviors on the process of aging.
4. Describe the impact of stress, medications, and nutrition on older adults.
5. Discuss current trends in health care services and treatment options for older adults. 
6. Identify the issues relevant to acute and chronic illness in later life, and how those issues relate to therapeutic interventions.
7. Examine issues that relate to quality of life in later life and at the end of life..

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Teaching/Learning Strategies

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Use of Web-based Discussion Board

WebBoard will be used in class for electronic discussions. Students are required to participate in class electronic discussions. In other words, they are required to post messages and reply to messages on the bulletin board. 

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Required Textbook

Ferrini, A. & Ferrini, R. (1999).  Health In The Later Years (3rd Ed).
        WCB/McGraw-Hill  ISBN: 0697262634
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• Module 1 Introduction to Technology: An introduction to the different technologies associated with an Internet-based course is presented.
• Module 2 Introduction to Health, Wellness, & Aging: The concepts of health and wellness are explored as they relate to aging.
• Module 3 The Body & Normal Aging, Part I  Normal physical, sensory, and cognitive changes that accompany aging.
• Module 4 The Body & Normal Aging, Part II  Normal physical, sensory, and cognitive changes that accompany aging.
• Module 5 The Body & Normal Aging, Part III  Normal physical, sensory, and cognitive changes that accompany aging.
• Module 6 Activity & Aging, Part I: The impact of physical activity and exercise on the experience of aging.
• Module 7 Activity & Aging, Part II: The changes related to the sleep/wake cycle and sexuality are explored.
• Module 8 Activity & Aging, Part III: The factors that impact nutritional status, longevity, and lifestyle are discussed.
• Module 9 Medications & Aging: Issues related to medication usage and overuse that impact the aging process and quality of life..
• Module 10 Acute Illness in Later Life: A general overview of 
• Module 11 Chronic Illness in Later Life: A general overview of
• Module 12 Dementia in Later Life: A discussion of the current issues in related to mental health in the older adult population.
• Module 13 Health Care & Aging. A discussion of the current issues in health care services, delivery, and options for the older adult population..
• Module 14 Quality of Life: An exploration of the factors that impact quality of life in later life and at the end of life.

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Course Evaluation Plan

Class Participation
Satisfactory class participation, which includes effective group interaction, will be determined by accurate and relevant statements made to the topics under discussion. Discussion and arguments should be logical and substantiated by facts and outside readings.  Students are expected to actively participate in discussion formats either through bulletin boards, chat rooms, e-mail, teleconferences, or other distance learning discussion formats proposed. Active participation includes the willingness to respect the views and opinions of others and the ability to change views, or consider other views, when one's view is found faulty.

Web Board Discussion Assignments

Study Question Assignments
Each Module has study questions which are intended to make you think about how problems would be solved in the real vs. textbook world. Some questions may require that you actually find the answer from experience or asking others that you know. We will discuss ways to expand our knowledge from experience rather than from books.

News Room Assignment
This is place where you will post reviews of current media articles/releases on topics relevant to our course on aging. There will be one board per module. All students are required to post articles they find and to dialogue with other students about all postings.  Class will discuss implications and accuracy of this media information being provided to the public.  

Field Trips 
This is where students will post information about a unique source, relevant to this class, that you visited either in Cyberspace or in our "physical" world. Classmates will take the Field Trip, if on the web, and in discussion on the web board evaluate the importance, type of information provided (for research, teaching, self interest, self care, etc.), accuracy of information, benefit for professionals and/or consumers.  If the Field Trip was to a physical location, the student will have to provide enough information for class discussion.

Focus Paper  
The Focus Paper is intended to focus on a specific problem area and present an innovative design solution. The guidelines for this project are very specific.  Draft of Focus Paper is to be submitted to instructor for approval, attached to email, by February 23, 2000. Deadline for final version of Focus Paper is April 19.

Midterm and Final Examinations
Midterm and final examinations will be taken from presentation material, class discussions posted on bulletin board, and reading assignments. Examination format may include multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions. 

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Course Policies

On-line Attendance: Students are responsible for their own learning and are expected to review all class sessions. Attendance will be recorded through participation in bulletin board (Web Board) postings.

Assignments, Projects, and Examinations: All projects and assignments are to be submitted to the course instructor by the required date due. Late submission of assignments, projects, and examinations may result in lowered grades. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that the instructor has received the assignment, project, or examination, regardless of how the paper is being submitted. If the paper is electronically submitted, the student is responsible for checking with the instructor prior to the deadline to be certain the paper has been received in full. Students unable to submit assignments, projects, or examinations by the deadline due to illness or emergency, will notify the course instructor prior to the deadline date and make arrangements for an alternate deadline date. Alternate dates for submission of midterm examinations must be scheduled within seven days of the original due date. Alternate dates for submission of final examinations must be scheduled prior to the university's last scheduled day for final examinations.

Academic Integrity: All assignments, projects, and examinations are to be completed solely by the student. Inclusion of facts, ideas, quotes, or other materials from outside sources must be cited and referenced in all work. Evidence of cheating and plagiarism are cause for disciplinary action by the university. According to the university, plagiarism and cheating refer to the use of unauthorized books, notes, or otherwise securing help in a test; copying tests, assignments, reports, or term papers; representing the work of another person as one's own; collaborating without authority with another student during an examination or in preparing academic work, or otherwise practicing academic dishonesty.

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