Objectives

• Recognize the clinical features of dementia as a terminal illness and identify when hospice referral is appropriate
• Become familiar with current research that reports variation in quality of care for persons with advanced dementia
• Understand the stressors of the growing number of family caregivers
• Identify the components of "attuned communication" and understand how it impacts physiological balance for patient
• Understand the neurobiology of compassion
• Understand that caregiver health and wellness impact patient care
• Explain how recent developments in the tri-county area are creating national change in the health care industry
• Become familiar with wellness/relaxation techniques such as guided imagery and yoga
• Describe common impressions of people toward death and dying in America
• Examine the breadth of choices and interdisciplinary services at end-of-life
• Identify the physical, emotional and spiritual stresses of dying on the individual and family