The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association is pleased to introduce "Facing Abuse of Older Adults" as an addition to
its collection
of online professional development courses. The primary objective of this course is to increase the number of
dental
hygienists across the country who are knowledgeable in detecting, and confident in advocating against elder abuse
and
neglect.
Successful completion of this course will provide an enhanced understanding of the factors that are seen to explain
abuse
and neglect of older persons and why the problem persists in our society. The course will present a background of
the
causal dynamics found in families and institutions and explore the effects of discrimination and diversity, ethno
cultural
aspects and aboriginal concepts. This information will add to your self-confidence in recognizing and acting on
possible
situations of abuse or neglect of older clients.
Relevance to Practice
Dental hygienists are ethically and, in some cases, legally obligated to report suspected cases of older
adult abuse
and to advocate for their clients. Following recent changes in health care legislation, increasing numbers
of
dental hygienists across Canada are now able to provide mobile dental hygiene services to senior clients in
their
homes and retirement living centres. This means therefore, that dental hygienists are likely to see elderly
clients
on a frequent basis and are favourably situated to recognize and repond to abuse and neglect of older
adults.
Format for Learning
This 6-hour course is composed of an introduction and four sections presented in a webinar on-demand
format. The first module
focuses on Awareness of Older Adult Abuse, the second module on Contributing Factors to
Older Adult Abuse, the third emphasizes the Recognition of Older Adult Abuse and the final module
concentrates
on Taking Action Against Older Adult Abuse.
Dental hygienists view the on-demand webinar version of each module. At the beginning of each module, a pre
test invites
learners to complete up to five questions to self-evaluate one's current knowledge and to provide a sense
of
what to expect to learn by completing the module and the learning activities. The post test is completed at
the
end of the module and a comparison is made to self evaluate one's level of knowledge. The completion of the
pre
and post tests and the learning activities helps to prepare for taking the final multiple choice
examination.
Evaluation
- Pre tests, post tests and quizzes are not marked - they are self-assessment tools to prepare you for
writing
the final examination.
- When you feel you are ready, you may take the final multiple choice examination. The results are
computer-generated
and the passing grade is 80%.
- You may take the examination for each course a maximum of two times to achieve this grade; however,
each exam
will be unique as questions are computer-generated on a rotational basis.
- You are expected to complete the examination without referring to the course materials.
- Once you achieve a passing score you will be able to print the Certificate of Completion. It is
recommended that
you print your certificate immediately after you have taken the courses and place them in a folder
containing
your professional development activities. Most dental hygiene regulatory authorities will require the
certificate
as verification of course completion.
- When you are ready you may take the final examination.
Alison Leaney, MSW, RSW
Alison Leaney is the
National Project
Coordinator for the Elder Abuse Theme Team's Knowledge to Action Project, of the National Initiative for
the
Care of the Elderly (NICE). Her role is to put evidence based tools in the hands of senior abuse
responders.
As a social worker, Alison has more than 15 years experience in the senior abuse field.
She is a former Chair of the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (CNPEA) and is one of two
finalists for the
Premier's Innovation and Excellence Legacy Award for the collaborative provincial approach she led at the
Public
Guardian and Trustee of BC and the BC Association of Community Response Networks to address adult
abuse/neglect.
April Struthers, BA, MEd., RCC
April Struthers is an
organizational
consultant with clinical qualifications and a practice that ranges from BC to the UK. She works across
sectors
to develop anti-abusive workplaces and communities. April has an interest in prevention research generally
and
in developing approaches which are culturally safe for fist nations and aboriginal communities. She often
works
at the strategic level in the field of prevention of elder abuse has done national scans of activities in
the
field and authored a national strategy to combat abuse of older adults.
Brenda Leggett
Brenda Leggett has over twenty years of experience as a dental hygiene educator at Georgian College and Algonquin
College. She has practised in community health as a dental hygiene administrator, and remains active as a clinical
dental hygienist in private practice. For ten years, she has participated as an item writer for the National Dental
Hygiene Certification Examination, and presently represents the central region of Canada on the National Dental Hygiene
Certification Board's Examination Committee. In addition, she is a College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO)
representative on the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada site-visit teams. Brenda is a dental hygiene
graduate of John Abbott College, holds an interdisciplinary BA in labour studies from Carleton University, and a
library and information technician diploma from Algonquin College. At the time of course development, Brenda served as
the information coordinator at the CDHA.
Laura Myers, RRDH, DipDH, BA(Psy.), MA(Ed.)
Laura Myers is a graduate of the dental hygiene program at
John Abbott College, holds a BA in Psychology from Carleton
University and a MA in Education - Adult Education and Training - from the University of Phoenix. She has more than 25
years of dental hygiene experience in education, administration, restorative, and community health, and remains active
in clinical practice. Fluently bilingual, Laura was an educator at La Cité Collégiale and Algonquin College for 12
years. She was the Executive Director of the National Dental Hygiene Certification Board for more than 3 years. She has
served as a council member of the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario, a member of the Commission on Dental
Accreditation of Canada site visit teams, a member of the National Dental Hygiene Certification Board's Examination
Committee, and she was the francophone representative on the Board of Directors of Dental Hygiene Educators Canada. At
the time of course development, Laura was the Director of Education at the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association.