Parkinson's Disease

Summary

Getting familiar with Parkinson’s Disease in terms of epidemiology and prevalence, known causes including genetics, environmental and their interactions, how diagnosis is made and communicated and which are the main symptoms.
Understanding the impact of PD to patients and their caregivers and how the early and timely integration of palliative care can help deal with it.

Palliative care principles and concepts

Summary

Comprehending the palliative care principles.
Get introduced to the multi-dimensionality of human-being and the complexity of accepting death and non-ideal outcomes.
Understanding the dynamic involvement of palliative care throughout the illness.
Get familiar with patient-family oriented care management competencies.
Taking care of oneself and multidisciplinary team.

Parkinson’s Disease and its management

Summary

Be informed about the available pharmacological treatments for PD.
Be informed about the surgical options that exist for the advanced Parkinson’s Disease.
Comprehend the importance of multi-professional, interdisciplinary and continuous management of PD.

Interdisciplinary approaches for the management of PD

Summary

Understand the concepts of multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches and their difference.
Identify the different healthcare professionals involved in the management of patients with Parkinson’s disease and their roles.
Learn how to design individual care plans by taking the needs and preferences of the patient and caregiver into account.

Getting on with life (Living with Parkinson’s)

Summary

Understand the impact of PD in common activities of daily life.
Learning practical tips that will help patients and caregivers improve their quality of life.

Providing care for caregivers

Summary

Comprehend what caregiving entails.
Understand the rights and needs of caregivers.
Be educated in basic caring skills.
Become aware of interventions aiming to reduce the burden and distress of the caregiver.
Understand the role of support groups.

Advance Care Planning and Advance Directives

Summary

Be able to identify and describe the different “last decisions” in late stage PD.
Have basic knowledge on how to make a will.
Know basics on how to deal with power of attorneys.
Being part of science: participating in clinical studies and the “brain bank” initiative.
Have some basic knowledge on the most important research activities in late stage PD.

Advanced Parkinson`s Disease, Death and Dying

Summary

Be able to recognise the advanced stage PD and start or increase the intensity of palliative care.
Understand the difficulties of the advanced stage.
Understand and accept the end-of-life decision-making process.
Be aware of alternative settings and different options for the advanced stage.

Managing common symptoms in Late Stage PD

Summary

Understand the clinical aspects of specialist palliative care in Parkinson’s disease
Be able to recognize, assess and manage common symptoms in late stage PD
Understand the social aspects of eating.
Swallowing problems in the advanced stages of the disease.
Comprehend when a feeding tube is indicated and what it entails.
Be aware of speech therapeutics options towards eating.

Loss, Grief management and Bereavement

Summary

Identify and describe the losses (and their impact) that patients and their families face across the illness trajectory and (for families) after death.
Differentiate between loss, grief, bereavement and mourning, including triggers for abnormal of prolonged grief reactions.
Identify common loss/grief models and describe their value for practice, including identification of complex grief.

Spiritual Care

Summary

Understand the concepts of spirituality, spiritual needs and care.
Be able to apply the spiritual care model throughout the illness course.

Testimonials and Discussion on Advance Directives

Summary

Comprehend patients’ and caregivers’ views on advance care planning
Understand different perspectives in complex, advance care decisions