|
Week
Date
|
Topic
|
Description
|
Module
Objectives & Links to Study Questions
|
|
1
Jan 8
|
Module
1:
Intro to Technology & Defining Aging |
An introduction to the different
technologies associated with an Internet-based course is presented
and the biological definitions of aging.
|
At the end
of this Module, students will be able to:
1.Create a Word document.
2.Find a Web site about a given topic.
3.Send an email with/without an attachment to the instructor.
4.Post a message to the class distribution list.
5.Reply to the message from the instructor.
6.Post a message on the bulletin board.
7.Reply to a posting on the bulletin board.
8.Make a contribution in the class WebBoard chat room.
9. Define and describe basic aspects of biological aging.
10. Explain homeostasis and plasticity.
Module
1 Study Questions
|
|
2
Jan 15
|
Module
2:
Intro to Aging in Other Species |
The
concepts of aging in animals and plants are explored as they
relate to human aging.
|
At
the end of this module, students will be able to:
1. Define aging in animals and describe why we study them as related
to human aging.
2. Describe aging by "wear and tear".
3. Compare and contrast the longevity for selected species.
4. Identify cellular aging in plants and the concept of programmed
aging.
5. Describe what we have learned about human aging from the study
of plants and animal species.
Module 2 Study Questions |
|
3
Jan 22
|
Module
3:
The Body & Normal Aging |
Normal
physical, sensory, and cognitive changes that accompany aging.
|
At
the end of this module, students will be able to:
1. Identify normal age changes in body systems and how these changes
impact on the older adult in his or her environment.
2. Describe the distinction between normal aging changes and age
related illnesses.
Module 3 Study Questions |
|
4
Jan 29
|
Module
4:
The Demographic Facts of Life |
Geographic
distribution, composition, and determinants of populations.
|
At
the end of this module, students will be able to:
1. Identify demographic changes in the past century and describe
future population trends.
2. Describe life tables, survival curves, and statistical implications
for social and medical services.
3. Differentiate between life expectation at birth and at age
65 and how these statistics have changed over the past 200 years.
Module 4 Study Questions |
|
5
Feb 5
|
Module
5:
How Do We Age? |
Aging
of cells and tissues in the lab.
|
At the end
of this module, students will be able to:
1. Describe aging in dividing cells, cellular lifespans, and
aging in nondividing cells.
2. Describe how these normal age changes impact an elder's immune
system function.
3. Differentiate between normal cellular age changes and disease
states common in advanced years.
Module
5 Study Questions
|
|
6
Feb 12
|
Modules
6&7:
The Body & Normal Aging, Parts II
& III |
Normal
physical, sensory, and cognitive changes that accompany aging
from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study. Effects of age on body
systems.
|
At the end
of these modules, students will be able to:
1. Describe the normal human biological aging changes found
in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.
2. Discuss the impact of physical activity on normal aging and
chronic illness, and the hazards of inactivity.
3. Define the scope and benefits of exercise in the older adult
population.
4. List height, weight, and sensory changes related to aging.
5 . Describe sleep/wake cycle changes related to aging.
6. List nutritional changes related to aging.
7 . Discuss the physiologic alterations that affect the older
adult's capacity for exercise.
Modules
6 & 7 Study Questions
|
|
7
Feb 19
|
|
8
Feb 26
|
Module
8:
Life Span Determinants |
What
scientists have learned from Centenarians, and variables relating
to life span.
|
At the end
of this module, students will be able to:
1. Discuss the lifestyle factors from Centenarian studies that
relate to longevity.
2. Describe how lifespan relates to brain weight and body weight.
3. Describe the relationship of body temperature and metabolic
rate to longevity.
Module
8 Study Questions
|
|
9
Mar 5
|
|
|
Mid-Term
Exam - due Mar 9 |
|
10
Mar 10
|
Spring
Break |
|
11
Mar 19
|
Module
9:
Biological Theories of Aging |
Theories
of aging based on purposeful and random events.
|
At
the end of this module, students will be able to:
1. Describe the role of theory in gerontology.
2. Describe the biological theories of based on purposeful events.
3. Describe the biological theories of based on random events.
Module
9 Study Questions |
|
12
Mar 26
|
Module
10:
Slowing Aging & Increasing Lifespan |
Impact
of exercise, nutrition, weight, sleep/ wake cycles, sexuality,
temperature & light on the experience of aging.
|
At
the end of this module, students will be able to:
1. Identify early attempts to control aging.
2. Describe the effect of exercise on lifespan and aging.
3. Describe the effect of nutrition on lifespan and aging.
4. Discuss the impact of temperature, light, and transfusions
on longevity.
Module
10 Study Questions |
|
13
Apr 2
|
Module
11:
Medications & Aging |
Issues
related to medication usage and overuse that impact the aging
process and quality of life.
|
At
the end of this module, students will be able to:
1. Describe aspects of absorption, metabolism, and excretion of
medications in older adults.
2. Describe drug action and interactions in elders.
3. Discuss patterns of drug use, misuse, and compliance.
Module 11 Study Questions |
|
14
Apr 9
|
Module
12:
Acute Illness in Later Life |
An
overview of acute health conditions.
|
At the end
of thismodule, students will be able to:
1. Differentiate between acute and chronic illness and identify
the most common chronic disorders affecting older adults.
2. Describe the relationship between chronic disorders and mobility.
3. Discuss pain, acute and chronic, as it relates to elders
and describe pain management strategies.
4. Identify factors related to the impact of disabling chronic
illness on elders.
5.
Discuss the impact of treatment of chronic illness on other
aspects of elders' lives.
Module 12 Study Questions
|
|
15
Apr 16
|
Module
13:
Chronic Illness in Later Life |
An
overview of chronic health conditions.
|
At
the end of this module, students will be able to:
1. Define dementia and differentiate from the symptoms of delirium
and depression.
2. Discuss the causes of dementia and differentiate between treatable
and untreatable forms of dementia.
3. Define the characteristics of Alzheimer's disease.
4. Discuss intervention strategies related to providing care for
someone with dementia.
Module 13 Study Questions |
|
16
Apr 23
|
Module
14:
Dementia, Depression, & Delirium in Later Life |
A
discussion of the current issues in related to mental health
in the older adult population.
|
Focus
Paper/Presentations Due
Apr 23
At
the end of this module, students will be able to:
1. Describe the ethical issues related to the right to quality
patient care for elders in various health care facilities.
2. Discuss relationship between socioeconomic status and health
care alternatives, and trends for the future.
3. Discuss the relationship of aging, illness and suicide.
4. Discuss the issue of mental health in the aging population
and describe the difficulty differentiating mental health from
mental illness.
5. Describe the dying process and appropriate comfort measures.
Module 14 Study Questions
|
