MAELD4100 Physiotherapy for Home-dwelling Elderly People Course description

Language of instruction: Norwegian

This course provides knowledge about the life situation of older adults living at home seen from an individual, social and cultural perspective and framework. Particular emphasis is placed on problems related to disadvantaged and vulnerable groups of older adults. Different theoretical and analytical perspectives in gerontology and geriatrics are drawn in to highlight how older adults´ life situation affects their experiences, activity and participation. The course has a focus on older adults as active players in their own everyday lives, and how they understand and experience their own situation.

The student must have been admitted to the Master’s Degree Programme in Health Sciences and hold authorisation as a physiotherapist.

It is assumed that the student has or will obtain access to physiotherapy work with older adults when taking the course.

After completing the course, the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence: 

Knowledge

The student

• can critically analyse and assess physiotherapy theories for older adults regardless of their ethnicity
• can analyse and assess movement, function, participation and health-related quality of life related to physiotherapy for the older adult
• can interpret and analyse theories about motor control and learning in the older adults

 Skills

The student

• can apply relevant theories in the analysis of movement and function in older adults
• can apply and critically reflect on the use of standardised assessment instruments in clinical practice
• can analyse and discuss the results of assessments of older adults
• can apply research-based knowledge, experience-based knowledge including older adults’ knowledge and preferences

 General competence  

The student

• can critically reflect on the knowledge basis for physiotherapy for the older adults
• can communicate up-to-date disciplinary knowledge to collaborative partners and the population at large
• can identify and handle ethical dilemmas related to assessment and measures in physiotherapy

The course will use varied, student-active work methods. Work and teaching methods include lectures, seminars, self-study assignments and supervision. Teaching is session-based  with two sessions lasting five days each, one of which is dedicated to self-study and supervision.

The following must have been approved for the student to take the examination:

• a minimum of 80% attendance at seminars where students present their assignments, and in group supervision.

Individual project examination in the form of a given topic that is developed during the course. Scope: 3,000 words (+/- 10%).

Resit examination: If the student is awarded the grade F (fails the written assignment), he/she will be given one (1) opportunity to submit a reworked version.

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.

Grade scale A-F.

Two examiners will assess all examination papers. At least 20% of the examination papers will be assessed by an external examiner. The external examiner’s assessment should benefit all students. 

The course overlaps by 10 ECTS credits with FYSEL6010 Geriatric physiotherapy - knowledge-based 1 (20 ECTS credits) in the topic assessment.