1. Competencies for Working with Older Adults
Linda Felver, Ph.D., R.N.

2. These Older Adult Focus materials will help you develop nine Older Adult Competencies.
Three of them focus on individual older adults.
The next three focus on older adults and caregiver issues.
The last three focus on older adults and system issues.

3. As you read each competency, pause for a moment to consider how you could use it in your own setting.

4. Older Adult Competencies
Focus on individual older adults:
Awareness
Communication
Assessment

5. Awareness Competency
Increase own and others’ awareness of attitudes, values, and expectations about aging and their impact on care of older adults and their families.

6. Communication Competency
Communicate effectively, respectfully, and compassionately with older adults and their families/caregivers.

7. Assessment Competency
Use appropriate assessments for the functional, physical, cognitive, psychological, social, and spiritual status of older adults.

8. Older Adult Competencies
Focus on older adults and caregiver issues:
Adapting Care
Maximizing Function
Optimal Aging

9. Adapting Care Competency
Plan, implement, and evaluate care that is adapted to meet the individual functional, physical, cognitive,
psychological, social, and endurance capabilities of older adults.

10. Maximizing Function Competency
Plan, implement, and evaluate care that assists older adults and their families/ caregivers to meet personal goals, express preferences, maximize function,
maintain desired level of autonomy and independence, and live in their chosen environment.

11. Optimal Aging Competency
Plan, implement, and evaluate care that promotes optimal aging.

12. Optimal Aging Competency
Plan, implement, and evaluate care that promotes optimal aging.

13. Older Adult Competencies
Focus on older adults and system issues:
Complex Decisions
Organizational Systems
Advocacy

14. Complex Decisions Competency
Guide older adults and their families/caregivers in making complex decisions that arise with aging.

15. Organizational Systems Competency
Work effectively within and across organizational systems to promote quality care for older persons.

16. Advocacy Competency
Advocate for health, social, and financial needs of older adults at the policy level.

17. Now that you have an overview of the Competencies for Working with Older Adults, choose one and explore the learning activities in these Older Adult Focus materials that will help you develop it.