Senior Voice -

A series of online trainings will be available beginning in January, sponsored by the Area Health Education Center (AHEC), UAA Office of Health Programs Development, and the Trust Training Cooperative. The series is a partnership with the Northwest Geriatric Education Center, and will offer 10 weeks of trainings from Jan. 6 through March 10, to Alaska via virtual classroom on the Internet.

The series is designed to give community-based providers working in the field of aging – physicians, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, social workers, pharmacists and other interested professionals – access to valuable information without traveling. Classes feature a different speaker each week discussing their area of expertise, with topics ranging from sleep and dementia to caring for caregivers.

A complete schedule is available online, as well as a list of host sites around the state, at http://www.akcache.org. Search for the “2015 Winter Geriatric Telehealth Series.” You must attend at one of the host sites. Cost is $60 registration and $10 per training, and continuing education credit is available for an additional $40. Anyone can register at any time for the classes, there is no deadline.

The January schedule:

Jan. 6, “Dementia”

Jan. 13, “Pharmacotherapy for Dementia”

Jan. 20, “Frontline tools for the Differential Diagnosis of Depression, Delirium and Dementia”

Jan. 27, “After the Diagnosis: Maintaining Quality of Life and coping with Early stage Issues”

Visit the web link for information on presenters of each of these sessions, as well as the topics and presenters for February and March classes.

For more information, contact Geri Heiner at (907) 786-6591, or by e-mail at glheiner@alaska.edu. A List serve will be available to provide up-to-date information.