Geriatric Medicine - Falls Dementia and Polypharmacy

The Certificate in Geriatric Medicine: Falls, Dementia and Polypharmacy offer a comprehensive, evidence-based curriculum designed to equip healthcare professionals with essential skills to manage three critical syndromes impacting older adults' health and independence. Awarded by Medvarsity and accredited by the British Accreditation Council (BAC) and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), this program covers falls—a leading cause of injury and death in adults over 65—exploring intrinsic risks like sarcopenia and cognitive impairment alongside extrinsic hazards and Fall-Risk-Increasing Drugs (FRIDs). Learners gain practical expertise with validated assessment tools such as the Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) to stratify fall risk and implement targeted interventions. The dementia section delves into major neurocognitive disorder, distinguishing normal aging from Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and covering key subtypes including Alzheimer’s Disease, Vascular Dementia, Dementia with Lewy Bodies, and Frontotemporal Dementia. Critical diagnostics like MMSE, MoCA, and MRI interpretation enable accurate clinical evaluation. The polypharmacy module addresses risks from the concurrent use of multiple medications, emphasizing age-related pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes that increase vulnerability. Participants master deprescribing strategies, guided by evidence-based protocols and shared decision-making to optimize medication safety and alignment with patient goals. Interactive resources such as case studies, podcasts, and assessments reinforce learning throughout the course. Upon completion, participants receive certification validating their expertise in delivering multidimensional, patient-centered geriatric care that reduces adverse events and improves quality of life in the aging population. Medvarsity designates this enduring educational material for a maximum of 5.5 American Medical Association Physician’s Recognition Award (AMA PRA) Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Claiming Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits without active participation is considered unethical and may adversely affect medical license renewals. Non-physician participants are not eligible to claim AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™; however, participation hours may be documented separately for other professional requirements.