PSW053 - Cognitive Impairment and Mental Health Issues

Outline information
Semester
Schools offering this subject
Last revision date 2024-01-29 00:38:55.652
Last review date 2024-02-05 00:15:00.517

Subject Title
Cognitive Impairment and Mental Health Issues

Subject Description
This subject is designed to provide a basic knowledge of mental health issues in today's society. Understanding and managing challenging behaviours with the client who is cognitively impaired is discussed, along with strategies for working with these challenging behaviours. Additionally, an introduction to the understanding of dementias including Alzheimer?s disease and related disorders with effective approaches for providing care is presented. Students are encouraged to reflect on their personal feelings, experiences and reactions surrounding mental health.

Credit Status
1 Credit towards the Personal Support Worker Program

Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this subject the student will be able to:

Upon successful completion of this subject, the student will be able to:
  1. Recognize and identify approaches and best practices to support positive and safe behaviors in client’s experiencing cognitive impairment, mental health challenges and/or responsive behaviours and their effects on everyday life.
  2. Define and understand cognitive impairment and describe approaches and best practices to support positive and safe behaviour in clients experiencing cognitive impairment.
  3. Identify the common effects of cognitive impairment, mental health disorders or substance abuse may have on a client’s perception, memory, judgement, organization, language and motor skills; acknowledge that impairment in one area may not indicate impairment in another.
  4. Describe disorientation, delirium, and dementia their causes and the signs and symptoms.
  5. Understand primary dementias such as Alzheimer’s and secondary dementias such as Parkinson’s disease dementia.
  6. Identify factors which can increase risk of suicide in adults.
  7. Recognize and respond appropriately to possible indicators of suicidal behaviour.
  8. Identify own views about suicide and examine how these views may affect the service provided to a consumer/client.
  9. Understand substance use and addiction, including gambling in the adult.
  10. Recognize that behaviours are individual and often misinterpreted; ensure that she/he is aware of any diagnosis/assessment related to the behaviour, identified approaches and expected outcomes.
  11. Identify factors such as illness, fatigue, stress, sensory overload, pain, fear, frustration and depression which can further affect the functioning of the client with cognitive impairment, dementias and intellectual abilities.
  1. Identify environmental factors which can affect the consumer's client's ability to function and adapt the consumer's/client's environment to support comfort, safety and function.
  2. Demonstrate a beginning understanding of autism and developmental delay.
  3. Discuss the role of the Personal Support Worker in assisting clients experiencing cognitive impairment, dementia, disorientation and or delirium in keeping with the care plan.
  4. Identify the need for the importance of communication with clients; adapt communication to best meet their needs.
  5. Apply common encouragement and stimulation techniques to provide the consumer/client with the opportunity to participate in activities.
  6. Recognize that unexpected client behaviour requires an immediate response as well as a report to supervisor.
  7. Understand how culture can influence the interpretation and treatment of mental health.

Essential Employability Skills

    •  Communicate clearly, concisely and correctly in the written, spoken and visual form that fulfils the purpose and meets the needs of the audience.

    •  Respond to written, spoken, or visual messages in a manner that ensures effective communication.

    •  Apply a systematic approach to solve problems.

    •  Use a variety of thinking skills to anticipate and solve problems.

    •  Locate, select, organize, and document information using appropriate technology and information systems.

    •  Analyze, evaluate, and apply relevant information from a variety of sources.

    •  Show respect for diverse opinions, values, belief systems, and contributions of others.

    •  Interact with others in groups or teams in ways that contribute to effective working relationships and the achievement of goals.

    •  Manage the use of time and other resources to complete projects.

    •  Take responsibility for one's own actions, decisions, and consequences.

Academic Integrity
Seneca upholds a learning community that values academic integrity, honesty, fairness, trust, respect, responsibility and courage. These values enhance Seneca's commitment to deliver high-quality education and teaching excellence, while supporting a positive learning environment. Ensure that you are aware of Seneca's Academic Integrity Policy which can be found at: http://www.senecapolytechnic.ca/about/policies/academic-integrity-policy.html Review section 2 of the policy for details regarding approaches to supporting integrity. Section 2.3 and Appendix B of the policy describe various sanctions that can be applied, if there is suspected academic misconduct (e.g., contract cheating, cheating, falsification, impersonation or plagiarism).

Please visit the Academic Integrity website http://open2.senecac.on.ca/sites/academic-integrity/for-students to understand and learn more about how to prepare and submit work so that it supports academic integrity, and to avoid academic misconduct.

Discrimination/Harassment
All students and employees have the right to study and work in an environment that is free from discrimination and/or harassment. Language or activities that defeat this objective violate the College Policy on Discrimination/Harassment and shall not be tolerated. Information and assistance are available from the Student Conduct Office at student.conduct@senecapolytechnic.ca.

Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
The College will provide reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities in order to promote academic success. If you require accommodation, contact the Counselling and Accessibility Services Office at ext. 22900 to initiate the process for documenting, assessing and implementing your individual accommodation needs.

Camera Use and Recordings - Synchronous (Live) Classes
Synchronous (live) classes may be delivered in person, in a Flexible Learning space, or online through a Seneca web conferencing platform such as MS Teams or Zoom. Flexible Learning spaces are equipped with cameras, microphones, monitors and speakers that capture and stream instructor and student interactions, providing an in-person experience for students choosing to study online.

Students joining a live class online may be required to have a working camera in order to participate, or for certain activities (e.g. group work, assessments), and high-speed broadband access (e.g. Cable, DSL) is highly recommended. In the event students encounter circumstances that impact their ability to join the platform with their camera on, they should reach out to the professor to discuss. Live classes may be recorded and made available to students to support access to course content and promote student learning and success.

By attending live classes, students are consenting to the collection and use of their personal information for the purposes of administering the class and associated coursework. To learn more about Seneca's privacy practices, visit Privacy Notice.