Geropsychiatric Education Program

Programs & Services

GPEP Core Programs

The Geropsychiatric Education Program strives to adapt all its programs to meet the unique learning needs within your environment. All of the programs noted below can be adapted in:

• Length: sessions can be 1 – 8 hours, depending on the content area and your scheduling
• Content: can be adapted for non-professional staff, professionals, and family caregivers
• Timing: we will work with you to arrange a time that best meets the needs and working situations of learners

Please read more about registration and contact us at gpep@vch.ca to work out a learning plan for your site.

GPEP Core Programs Index

• Abuse Prevention in Residential Care/
  Promoting a Supportive and Respectful Environment
• Bathing Strategies and Techniques
• Bipolar Disorder in the Older Adult
• Caring and Learning Together
• Communication for Persons with Cognitive Impairment
• Delirium
• Dementia
• Depression and Suicide
• Frontal Lobe Dementia
• Intimacy, Sexuality and Dementia
• Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Course (CPI)
• Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Course (CPI) Refresher
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorders
• Pain and Palliative Care in Dementia
• Personality Disorders in the Older Adult
• Responding to Refusal, Agitation and Aggression
• Schizophrenia in the Older Adult and Care Planning
• Understanding Responsive Behaviours

 

Abuse Prevention in Residential Care/
Promoting a Supportive and Respectful Environment

• Helps staff understand: different types of abuse; their role in creating a supportive environment; and personal strategies to prevent abuse.

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Bathing Strategies and Techniques

• Designed for any formal care provider
• Review symptoms of dementia which make bathing challenging
• Provide strategies to adapt bath care planning.

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Understanding Responsive Behaviours

• Eight hour workshop (over one or two days) on the GPEP model, assessing the psychiatric, physical, psychosocial and environmental influences on behaviour and designing care strategies.
• Designed for all residential care staff

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Caring and Learning Together

• Twelve- hour course on dementia, depression, delirium, assessing behaviour using the GPEP Model and communication
• Designed for community health workers and family caregivers
• Offered at a variety of sites in the Vancouver Coastal Health region
• Click here to find out more about the Caring and Learning Together Program.

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Communication with Persons with Cognitive Impairment

• Describes the communication changes that occur in dementia
• Discussion and practice of communication strategies

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Delirium

• 1 - 2 hour session.
• Participants will gain an overview of risk factors, causes, symptoms and care approaches. Can also include assessment tools.

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Dementia

• 1 - 2 hour session.
• Participants will gain an overview of the different types of dementia, behavioural symptoms, treatment and care approaches.

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Depression and Suicide

• 1 - 2 hour session.
• Participants will gain an overview of risk factors, causes, symptoms (specifically in the elderly), treatment and care approaches. Can also include assessment tools.

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Frontal Lobe Dementia

• 1 hour session
• Participants will gain an overview of Frontal Lobe Dementia, signs and symptoms, and care strategies. Participants will also be able to differentiate between frontal lobe and other forms of dementia.

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Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Course (CPI)

• Eight hour workshop focusing on verbal, nonverbal and personal safety techniques used when responding to challenging behaviours
• Offered at a variety of locations throughout Vancouver Coastal Health
• Can also be booked as a facility-specific workshop
• Open to all residential care staff
• $18.00 fee to cover materials

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Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Course (CPI) Refresher

• Four hour re-certification workshop
• Offered at a variety of locations throughout Vancouver Coastal Health
• Open to residential carestaff who are currently certified in CPI
• $10.00 fee to cover materials

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Obsessive Compulsive Disorders in the Older Adult

• One hour session
• This session reviews behavioural symptoms, treatments and care strategies.

 

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Pain and Palliative Care in Dementia

• Participants will enhance their skills in caring for palliative clients by:
  • gaining an understanding of how pain affects behaviour
  • learning to use a simple Pain Assessment Tool
  • learning practical techniques for providing comfort care to clients in end-stage dementia
  • developing strategies to work with and support families

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Personality Disorders in the Older Adult

• One hour session
• This session reviews this common metal health illness and helps staff understand behavioural symptoms, treatments and care strategies.

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Responding to Refusal, Agitation, and Aggression

• Three hour session based on the CPI content
• For any staff working in residential care
• Helps staff learn to assess residents for escalating behaviour and respond appropriately
• Staff learn both verbal and physical responses which keep both staff and residents safe.

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Intimacy, Sexuality, and Dementia

• Two hours, for residential care staff
• Explores sexuality, intimacy and social myths about sexual expression in the older adult
• Participants review consent, competency, and practice using a decision-making framework to guide their care planning.

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Schizophrenia in the Older Adult

• One hour session
• Adapted to any knowledge level and time frame, these sessions review these common mental health illnesses and help staff understand behavioural symptoms, treatments and care strategies.

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Learn More

• How to Register

For more information regarding GPEP courses, please contact Kyle Welton, Mental Health Assistant

• Phone:  604-708-5224
• Fax:  604-874-7661
• Or email gpep@vch.ca

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