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$29.00 USD

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0.1  ASHA CEUs

Making The Most Of Mealtime: Helping Older Adults Compensate For Sensory Impairment During Meals #e111


Presenter: Jennifer A. Brush, MA, CCC-SLP

Solutions to environmental barriers to help individuals function more independently during meals.

"Practical information which can be easily communicated with other professionals."

– J.G., prior course participant

Read more comments about this course!

Older adults and individuals with dementia experience a variety of sensory changes that affect their diet and ability to function independently during meals. Swallowing dysfunction that results from aging or dementia can be exacerbated by environmental barriers such as inadequate lighting, noisy conditions, poor or absent environmental cues, and visual clutter.

This course will address solutions for these environmental barriers as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for older adults with dysphagia and dementia. Examples for research on the physical and social environment will be shared. Course is offered for 0.1 ASHA CEUs – 1 Contact Hour.

Course Overview & Run Time

Course Overview – Run Time: 1:07:34

  • Changes in vision, hearing, taste, smell, and touch that are part of the aging process.
  • Sensory changes that are part of dementia.
  • Incorporating the physical environment into the dysphagia assessment.
  • Identify aspects of the environment that can be modified to support functioning during meals.

"This course addresses a major problem in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Homes, that being reduced oral intake of patients/clients. I liked the discussion on how changes in environment in dining areas can result in increased intake."

– P.M., prior course participant

Read more comments about this course!

Content Disclosures

The content of this online CE course does not focus exclusively on any specific proprietary product or service. Presenter financial and non-financial disclosures may be found in the Presenter & Disclosures area.

Course Format

Video PowerPoint presentation with author narration & downloadable handout. Stop and re-start the course at any point. Learners retain access to course content after completion for ongoing reference and review.

Reviews

Comments From Prior Course Participants

"Measuring lighting was helpful. I enjoyed the examples." J.H. (Jun. 2024)

"Modification info was beneficial. I liked the practical application." T.S. (Jun. 2024)

"The environmental changes were helpful, specifically, adding contrast. I liked the examples of how to change environment, particularly the study presenter conducted." H.W. (Aug. 2023)

"The explanation of environmental factors in dining was beneficial. I liked the course layout." L.A. (Mar. 2023)

"I liked this entire presentation." J.S. (Dec. 2022)

"All information was good. I liked the visual modifications suggested." S.P. (Nov. 2022)

"Ways to improve the elder's intake using different interventions and modifications. Good overview with fair amount of details." D.O. (Sept. 2022)

"Liked the discussion of optimizing auditory aspects of the environment. And learning assessment of the environment - what to look for." K.F. (Aug. 2022)

"The discussion of noise and lighting during meals was helpful. Course provided good information to recommend to the memory care director at my facility to improve the intake of our residents, particularly the lower level residents." L.B. (Aug. 2022)

"The specific changes SLPs can make was good information such as signs, color contrast, and potential environmental changes like moving rooms for designated meal times to assist in increasing intake." E.S. (Aug. 2022)

"Good info regarding practical changes to dining environment that facilitate patient performance. I liked the speaker's ability to share practical information which can be easily communicated with other professionals." J.G. (May 2022)

"I liked the examples of specific sensory issues and the research related on how it impacts reduced nutrition which increases risk of mortality, malnutrition, and reduced function. This course covers the essence of why we are there and need to assist in the collaboration of the individual's plan of care." K.K. (Mar. 2022)

"I liked the strategies to increase safe oral intake, and the information for treating / feeding patients with dementia." P.T. (Jan. 2022)

"Practical examples of evidence-based sensory adjustments for meal time." J.O. (Jan. 2022)

Course Objectives

At course conclusion, participants will be able to:
  1. Identify the normal changes in vision, hearing, taste, smell, and touch that are part of the aging process.
  2. Discuss the sensory changes that are part of dementia.
  3. Incorporate the physical environment into the dysphagia assessment.
  4. Identify aspects of the environment that can be modified to support functioning during meals.

Northern Speech Services is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. PD activity approval ID#19428. This DL-Independent activity is offered at 0.1 CEUs, Intermediate, 1. Domain of OT: Areas of Occupation, Client Factors, Activity Demands 2. OT Process: Performance Skills, Context and Environment, Evaluation, Intervention, Outcomes. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.

Presenter & Disclosures

Jennifer A. Brush, MA, CCC-SLP

Jennifer A. Brush, MA, CCC-SLP, is an award-winning Dementia Educator, author, and consultant. Passionate about enriching the lives of people with dementia, Jennifer is on a mission to put the focus of care on the person’s preferences, interests, and abilities. With her 25 years of industry experience, including leading countless live national and international trainings, facilitating ground-breaking research, and managing innovative person-centered care projects for The Mayer-Rothschild Foundation, Jennifer flawlessly bridges the gap between care communities and the individuals they serve. Jennifer serves on the Association Montessori International Advisory Board for Montessori for Aging and Dementia and is the only person in the US teaching this international program.

Jennifer is the author of 5 nationally recognized books on dementia including the silver-medal winning Creative Connections in Dementia Care and I Care, the gold-medal winning work that also received a 5-star rating as a Reader Favorite. Jennifer is widely known for her revolutionary work in the Spaced Retrieval memory intervention, pioneering this area of study and publishing 2 books on the subject.

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial — Jennifer Brush is a presenter of online CE courses sponsored by Northern Speech Services; receives royalties.

Financial — Jennifer Brush is the author of "Meal Time Matters" and "Meal Time Matters at Home"; receives royalties.

Financial — Jennifer Brush is the author of "A Therapy Technique for Improving Memory: Spaced Retrieval" and "Environment and Communication Assessment Toolkit"; receives royalties.

Financial — Jennifer Brush is an editor and author for IDEAS Institute; receives consulting fees.

Financial — Jennifer Brush is the owner of Brush Development; ownership interests.

Nonfinancial — Jennifer Brush has no relevant nonfinancial relationships to disclose.

Intended Audience / Accreditation

Intended Audience/Accreditation
asha ce approved provider

This program is offered for 0.1 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate Level; Professional Area).

Intended Audience

  • Speech-Language Pathologists
  • OT

ASHA CEUs: NSS online courses are registered with ASHA and are offered for ASHA CEUs. The number of ASHA CEUs is noted above. Note that 0.1 ASHA CEU = 1 contact hour = equals 1 CEE.

ASHA CE Registry: During the enrollment process, if you select to receive ASHA credit for this course and if you provide your ASHA number, NSS will automatically submit your CEU information to the ASHA CE Registry after successful course completion (80% on post test). This submission happens once per month, during the first week of the month. For example, if you complete your course on November 7th, NSS will submit all November online course CEUs to ASHA during the first week of December. When ASHA inputs the information into their database, they will mark the course as completed on the last day of the month in which it was completed, so November 30th using this example. The certificate of completion available for you to print immediately, however, will reflect the actual completion date, November 7th in this example. Due to ASHA processing procedures please allow 2-3 weeks, from the submission date, for the course to appear on your ASHA transcript.

ASHA CEUs: Attendees must meet at least one of the following conditions in order to be eligible to earn ASHA CEUs:
  • Current ASHA Member
  • ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) Holder
  • Licensed by a state or provincial regulatory agency to practice speech-language pathology (SLP) or audiology
  • Credentialed by a state regulatory agency to practice SLP or audiology
  • Credentialed by a national regulatory agency to practice SLP or audiology
  • Engaged in a Clinical Fellowship under the supervision of an individual with their ASHA CCC
  • Currently enrolled in a master's or doctoral program in SLP or audiology

If an attendee is not an ASHA member or CCC holder but meets any of the above criteria, they may inform the ASHA CE Registry of their eligibility by visiting this site.

Licensing Boards: Most state licensing boards DO accept CEUs earned online (usually classified as home-study credits). Some state boards do, however, place a limit to the number of credits that can be earned via home study/online courses. For the most current information, we suggest that you contact your licensing board or agency to verify acceptance policies and/or any credit limits related to home-study courses prior to registering for this course.

Additional accrediting agencies by which Northern Speech is an approved CE provider:

  • California: NSS is approved as a provider of continuing education by the California Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology Board. Provider #PDP4. Online CEU limits may apply; please contact SLPAHADB for current online CEU acceptance policies.
  • Iowa: NSS is approved as a provider of continuing education by the Iowa Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology Examiners. Provider #169.
  • Kansas: NSS is approved as a provider of continuing education by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Provider #LTS-S0005.
  • Florida: NSS is approved as a provider of continuing education by the Florida Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board. Provider #SPA-026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Online Course FAQ — Click Here

Customer Support: Please phone 888.337.3866 or email info@northernspeech.com.

Course Completion Timeframe:

You have unlimited time to complete our online courses. You may log off and log on as often as you’d like to in order to complete all sections of a course.

However, completion dates are based on Eastern Standard Time. Therefore, if you need your CEUs by a certain date, be sure to complete the course test before 11:59pm EST on that date. For example, if you need CEUs before January 1st, you will need to complete the course test before 11:59pm EST on December 31st.

Content Access:

Access to course materials and content does not expire, even after completing the post test. You may continue to review course material by logging into your NSS account, clicking the My Online Courses tab, and then viewing your desired course.

Certificate of Completion:

On successful completion of the post test (80%), a certificate will be immediately available for download and/or printing. This certificate will include your name, date of completion (based on Eastern Time Zone, USA/Canada), and number of contact hours (CEUs / CEEs). Please note that CEUs are awarded on the date of successful test completion, not the date of course enrollment. Please ensure that you successfully complete the post test prior to any licensure renewal dates.

ASHA CE Registry Submission:

During the enrollment process, if you select to receive ASHA credit for this course and if you provide your ASHA number, NSS will automatically submit your CEU information to the ASHA CE Registry after successful course completion (80% on post test). This submission happens once per month, during the first week of the month. For example, if you complete your course on November 7th, NSS will submit all November online course CEUs to ASHA during the first week of December. When ASHA inputs the information into their database, they will mark the course as completed on the last day of the month in which it was completed, so November 30th using this example. The certificate of completion available for you to print immediately, however, will reflect the actual completion date, November 7th in this example. Due to ASHA processing procedures please allow 2-3 weeks, from the submission date, for the course to appear on your ASHA transcript.

Purchase Orders:

Purchase orders are currently not accepted for online orders, if you wish to submit a purchase order please do so at info@northernspeech.com or fax to 888-696-9655.

What is an Online Course?

Our Online Courses consist of video, audio, and/or text content and are offered for ASHA CEUs. Unlike a webinar, which requires participants to be logged on and at a computer at specific times, our Online Courses are available to you at any time, from any device, via your NorthernSpeech.com online account. You may work at your own pace and start and stop your course as you wish. Your course will conclude with a short post test. On successful completion of the post test (>80%), a printable certificate of completion is presented to you.

Receiving CEUs:

Northern Speech is an ASHA CE Provider and our online courses are registered with ASHA and offered for ASHA CEUs. Please note that successful completion of the online post test is required prior to the awarding of CEUs. Please contact your state licensing board for acceptance policies related to CEUs earned online. Please note that courses offered for university students are not applicable for CEUs.

Registering for an online course:

You may browse all online courses by clicking the Continuing Education tab above, then Online Courses. Once you find a course, click Enroll Now, and you will be asked to either log into your existing Northern Speech account or create a new online account. Once you’ve entered your account information and provided your credit card payment, your course will be immediately available to you.

Accessing your purchased course or returning to a purchased course:

You will be able to access your online course by logging into your Northern Speech account and then clicking the My Online Courses tab on your profile screen. Click the course you would like to start or to resume. From there, proceed through the course sections until you are ready to complete the post test. You do not have to complete your course all at once. You may log on and off as you wish.

Testing requirements:

Each online course concludes with a post test consisting of multiple choice or true & false questions. Scores of 80% or greater are required for successful course completion and awarding of CEUs. You may revisit course materials and retest as needed to achieve a passing score.

Number of CEUs offered:

We offer courses from 1 to 21 contact hours. Each course will note the number of CEUs offered. Please note that 0.1 CEU = 1 contact hour = 1 CEE.

State licensing boards and online CEUs:

NSS is an ASHA CE Provider and most state licensing boards DO accept ASHA CEUs earned online (usually classified as home-study credits). Some boards do, however, place a limit to the number of CEUs that can be earned via home study/online courses. For the most current information, we suggest that you contact your licensing board or agency to verify acceptance policies and/or any CEU limits related to home-study courses prior to enrolling in an online course.

Course formats:

Our course formats include: text, audio, video, and PowerPoint with author narration. Each course will note the format on the course description page. Most courses include closed captioning.

Course handouts:

Most of our online courses provide a link to download the accompanying handout as a PDF file. 

Group discounts:

Groups of 3 or more are eligible for a 20% discount on each registration on most of our online courses. To receive this discount, registrations need to be processed together via the "Group Rates" tab on the Online Course of your choice.

Computer requirements:

For our online courses to function best, we recommend that you update your computer to include the newest version of your Internet browser (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Internet Explorer, etc.) and newest version of your computer's operating system. Also a high-speed Internet connection is recommended (cable or DSL). Speakers or headphones will be required for many of our courses as many contain audio components.

Course Cancellation Policy:

A purchased online course can be exchanged, refunded, or transferred to another individual if contact is made with NSS (via phone or email) within 30 days of purchase and the course materials have not been viewed or downloaded. 

Special Needs:

Please click here for any special needs requests, and we will do our best to accommodate them. 

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