Senior Service

DURATION: 3.5 Hour Course

This is a First Aid mini - course designed for family carers and friends of elderly people.

Most first aid courses focus specifically on life threatening injuries and events. We do cover these situations as well but we have also added some course content that is applicable (and valuable) in day to day life. Taught exclusively by Paramedics, Nurses and experienced clinicians we cover the following topics to try and ensure that our delegates are familiar with more common events. We aim to give carers confidence that they can deal with the more common issues that have the potential for more serious consequences.

When we get older we become more frail, an event that would have been shrugged off in earlier life can have a far more serious effect. Likewise, older people are statistically more likely to suffer some extremely serious illnesses that, if recognised early can sometimes be treated very successfully. We train people how to recognise the red flags that indicate deterioration, and give guidance about the best course of action to take.

Senior Service has been very well received by those who have attended the mini-course. We have feedback from delegates of all ages who are feeling much more confident about their abilities to spot issues before they become problems.

Topics covered are :

Where can I get help?

Some ideas about many different care pathways and places I can access help

Trauma

• CPR– How to manage an Airway, give rescue breaths and compressions
• Choking – Its all gone quiet!! How to help someone who is choking.
• Falls – a look at the common causes and frequent injuries
• Concussion and Head injuries – Recognition of concussion and more serious injuries

Medical

• Red Flags – an introduction to the signs and symptoms associated with elderly people who may be sick
• Urinary Tract Infections – How to recognise them and what effects they may have.
• Stroke– or is it a mini stroke? How do I recognise them and what should I do (or not do!)
• Chest pain -  or is it indigestion? Signs and symptoms of a Heart Attack and help with what to do.
• Dementia – there has been a change but is it the dreaded D word. Some guidance on places to get help on this and other common Mental Health issues.
• Those difficult conversations – There are no answers in this session just ways to broach the subject and have a conversation. We look at some ideas on how to discuss their wishes about resuscitation, or levels of care if they become acutely unwell, also some thoughts about how to talk about ongoing care. Is it better at home or would a residential/nursing home may be better. What do they want to happen after their death? Its all about respecting their wishes – this is a really popular session.