Age Appropriate Care

Table of Contents:

• Age Appropriate Care
• Legal Notice
• Purpose and Learning Objectives
• Target Audience
• What is Age Appropriate Care?
• The Age Groups
• Developmental Challenges Across Life Span
• Developmental Challenges by Age Groups
• Developmental Challenges: Safety
• Developmental Challenges: Pharmacology
• Developmental Challenges: Nutrition & Hydration
• Age Related Implications for Health Care Providers
• Health Care Delivery
• Age Appropriate Care Examples
• End of Course Quiz

Course Content Example 1:

 What is Age Appropriate Care?

Age appropriate care is personal contact, interactions, and treatment provided to meet the special needs and behavior of specific patient age groups. Consideration must be given to the patient’s age, size, and development level and includes meeting physical and psychosocial needs.

All health care providers must take into account the developmental challenges facing their patients and adjust care accordingly.

Course Content Example 2:

Health Care Delivery

Ability to participate in care is affected by age

• Decision-making usually placed on parent or legal guardian in case of a minor
• Older adult may be physically or cognitively impaired and unable to participate in decision making for his or her care

Communication Techniques

• Ensure language interpreters and translators
• Identify and address patient communication needs
• Language access is a very important concern

Note: The JC reports that 47 million people in the US speak a language other than English

Effective communication is a critical aspect of safe, quality patient care