Online Class: Aging and Long Term Care 101

no certificate
with CEU Certificate*
-
11Lessons
-
16Exams &
Assignments -
1,038Students
have taken this course -
5Hours
average time -
0.5CEUs
Course Description
This course describes the aging process, risks to senior's health, and how to stay healthy no matter if you are 65 or 105.
You will gain understanding of and respect for seniors, and explode some myths about the aging brain.
Types of long-term care will be defined as well as payment methods and the CLASS Act federal funding plan.
You will also learn to protect yourself from burnout when caring for aging parents or your spouse.
Course Motivation
Unfortunately, the funds to pay for all of these aging boomers' needs are not assured by any means. With an overwhelming shortage of loved ones to care for family elders, with long-term care insurance unaffordable for average Americans, and so few eligible for Medicaid (only lower income seniors qualify), this giant swath of older Baby Boomers might find options and services limited, at best. Inadequate and inconsistent regulatory processes, elder abuse, poor quality of care, and lack of coordination among ancillary services for the aged -- all plague the industry.
Yet research on aging and disease, pain management, and products to help seniors look and feel younger, pervade our media, literature, movies, and will be the cultural impetus for thousands of new inventions, industries, and research to mend the aging bodies that refuse to sit this one out.
Insurance reforms, engagement of volunteers, and a new kind of non-profit will be needed to care for this valuable asset -- an energized and healthy (if they make healthy choices) older American.
That said, cases of illness and disease will multiply with the booming senior population. Alzheimer's, cancer, heart disease, addiction, depression, social alienation -- and a new workforce must be there to assist the weak, the ill, and terminally ill in our American family. At the same time, leaders in the industry, and healthy seniors, continue to show the huge difference that healthy choices domake in preventing disease and extending longevity, enabling seniors to thrive into their 90s and beyond.
Despite weighty challenges, ALTC can, and should, seize upon scientific breakthroughs and new models to take this industry to new heights: A human lifespan of 120, people living to 100 as common as 85 once was, brain cells that replenish with use -- contrary to old assertions --all bode well for ALTC.
With medical and conceptual advances will come a new phenomenon: seniors as the largest consumer group in America, with significant political and economic clout, something never before seen in U.S. history. Their power will open doors for them to apply creative and precedent-setting solutions to problems of older Americans and ALTC.
The collective senior population must grab the brass ring, using their one-of-a-kind wisdom and experience, to be part of the solution -- to develop solutions, not only for the elderly and related industries -- but for future generations beset with crime, resource depletion, wars, and economies on the brink.
Course Objectives
At completion of this course, you will:
1. Have a grasp of the challenges in ALTC, and new prototypes emerging to meet the requirement of a much more diverse and larger market segment of seniors.
2. Have an understanding of existing types of ALTC, and evolving new types of services and settings for long-term care that are just beginning to emerge -- which represent aging services and long-term living options capable of fulfilling the demands of the marketplace.
3. Be familiar with the psychology of aging, normal cognitive changes, the latest findings on the brain's resiliency, keys to a satisfying aging experience and how to keep the mind sharp, and proactive steps to reduce the likelihood of depression, Alzheimer's, and dementia.
4. Learn the meaning of a "healthy lifestyle," commonalities of the clusters of centenarians across the globe, physical effects and biological processes of aging, what is and is not a normal part of aging, prevalent diseases and illnesses, and recommendations to avoid or manage them.
5. Understand the problems with quality in ALTC, and what can be done to improve quality -- such as a more centralized and consistent oversight delivery system, the urgent need for more staff, a desirable work environment to quell the relentless turnover, and government's involvement in assuring a pool of talent will be forthcoming to care for and train those who care for our elderly.
6. Be aware of the decrease in available family members to care for their elders, and how to fill that role when family cannot, options for juggling elder care with work and the demands of daily living, caring for yourself as caregiver to avoid burnout, and guilt regarding an aging spouse or parent.
7. Have knowledge of the rights of seniors: the need to protect them from abuse, neglect and exploitation (which is widespread); the role of ombudsmen to investigate and redress violations; and the federal legislation that grants seniors rights.
8. Understand essential legal matters of seniors, including legalities of death and dying, wills, powers of attorney, and legal terminology essential for seniors, their loved ones, and those who work in ALTC.
9. Become aware of the fundamental role of social involvement and emotional connection for seniors -- how it prevents disease, and how old age can be cause for joy and delight versus fear and despair.
10. Know the methods of paying for care: insurance and government funding, and one's own savings; the looming funding crunch with increased need for ALTC; how to keep insurance costs down, and the costs of the levels and types of care, based upon the number of activities of daily living one cannot manage on one's own.
11. Be able to obtain further resources for jobs and careers in ALTC, successful family elder care, managing your own senior years to best advantage, and government sites covering hundreds of links on ALTC, and all aspects of aging.
The number of citizens over age 85 will actually decrease from 2010 to 2030; however, in 2030, a very significant increase will begin, and by 2050 the 85+ segment will be upwards of 25 percent of the U.S. population.
Can we build enough nursing homes and retirement communities for them all? Or is that even the desired solution? In 2011, 90 percent of seniors indicate they want to stay in their homes as they age. Already 30 percent of seniors in the U.S. live alone.
The boomers will have a hand in building systems to meet their own and their fellow seniors' needs -- to fit their actively aging lives, since they are the power brokers in business, politics, government, education, and non-profits. Instead of nursing homes, the trend will be "aging in place" -- finding ways to age at home safely, with needed care, equipment, gadgets, and designs built in to compensate for physical -- and even cognitive -- limitations of seniors.
There is cause for concern, but also for optimism, about the potential to refashion ALTC to deliver the quantity and quality of services needed by the next graduating class from the school of life.
- Completely Online
- Self-Paced
- Printable Lessons
- Full HD Video
- 6 Months to Complete
- 24/7 Availability
- Start Anytime
- PC & Mac Compatible
- Android & iOS Friendly
- Accredited CEUs

Course Lessons
Lesson 1: The "New Old" Generation in Aging and Long Term-Care: Challenges & Reasons for Optimism
Lesson 1 Video
Lesson discussions: Aging and Long Term Care; Reasons for Taking this Course
Complete Assignment: An Introduction
Complete: Lesson 1 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 1 Exam
Lesson 2: Types of Care and Services for Seniors
Lesson 2 Video
Assessment: Lesson 2 Exam
Lesson 3: The Psychology of Aging
Lesson 3 Video
Assessment: Lesson 3 Exam
Lesson 4: Physical Health: Unique Needs and Challenges for Seniors
Lesson 4 Video
Complete: Lesson 4 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 4 Exam
Lesson 5: ALTC Challenges in Maintaining Quality Care and Services: Naming the Problems, Exploring Solutions
Lesson 5 Video
Assessment: Lesson 5 Exam
Lesson 6: Volunteer Caregivers - Issues for Family and Others Who Donate Elder Care
Lesson 6 Video
Lesson discussions: Caregiver
Assessment: Lesson 6 Exam
Lesson 7: The Rights of Elders and Consumers of ALTC Services
Lesson 7 Video
Complete: Lesson 7 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 7 Exam
Lesson 8: Legal Matters of the Aged and Terminally Ill
Lesson 8 Video
Assessment: Lesson 8 Exam
Lesson 9: Paying for Aging and Long-Term Care
Lesson 9 Video
Assessment: Lesson 9 Exam
Lesson 10: The Social Imperative - Invaluable Social Ties Lead to Healthy Aging and Longevity
Lesson 10 Video
Lesson discussions: Longevity
Complete: Lesson 10 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 10 Exam
Lesson 11: Course Review and Resources for More information on Aging and Long-Term Care
Lesson 11 Video
Lesson discussions: What is your opinion of this course?; Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course); Course Comments
Assessment: The Final Exam
Learning Outcomes
- Define challenges and describe reasons for optimism in aging and long term care.
- Describe types of care and services for seniors.
- Describe the psychology of aging.
- Summarize physical health - unique needs and challenges for seniors.
- Identify the challenges in maintaining quality care and services.
- Describe volunteer care givers - issues for family and others who donate elder care.
- Summarize the rights of elders and consumers of aging and long term care.
- Recognize legal matters of the aged and terminally ill.
- Describe paying for aging and long term care.
- Recognize the invaluable social ties that lead to healthy aging and longevity.
- Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
Additional Course Information

- Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
- Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
- Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
- View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
- Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media

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Includes CEUs | X |
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Instructor support |
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Time to complete | 6 months |
No. of courses | 1 course |
Certificate & CEUs
This course only
Includes certificate |
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Includes CEUs |
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Self-paced |
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Instructor support |
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Time to complete | 6 months |
No. of courses | 1 course |
Certificates & CEUs
Includes all 600+ courses
Includes certificate |
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Includes CEUs |
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Self-paced |
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Instructor support |
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Time to complete | 12 Months |
No. of courses | 600+ |
Certificates & CEUs
Includes all 600+ courses
Includes certificate |
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Includes CEUs |
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Self-paced |
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Instructor support |
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Time to complete | 24 Months |
No. of courses | 600+ |
Student Testimonials
- "As a caretaker for my spouse, the information was invaluable. I will definitely return for future review." -- William P.
- "This was a great course, a lot of useful information and easy to hit the outcomes. Well designed and loved the written assignments and feedback. Thank You." -- Brandy S.
- "The instructor is always there to answer my questions and very on top of things. The instructor and the course are the best!" -- Mary V.
- "I really enjoyed taking the course and learning more of what to expect as one grows older and what one's options are depending on their health." -- Jean B.
- "Great instructor, my overall positive experience with this class gave me the confidence to take more online courses." -- Sharon M.
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