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Empowering Rehabilitation Professionals: Evidence-Based Strategies for Geriatric Functional Assessment and Exercise
PT
OT
Course Level:
Intermediate
Course Type:
In-person
March 7, 2026
Check-In Time: 3/7/2026 7:30:00 AM
Course Time(s): 8:00AM-4:30PM
Course Location:
Contact Hours: 7.0
Course Completion:
Course intended to be completed in full.
Discipline Specific CEU Approvals:
-
OT: You will receive a certificate of completion with total CE contact hours. This course is not submitted for AOTA approval, but you may submit the certificate and course details to your licensing board. Please review your organization’s CE requirements for eligibility (OR could replace the last sentence with: For CE requirements and qualifying OT activities, see MN Statute 148.
- PT: This course will be submitted to the MN Board of PT for credit approval; however, approval or the full number of credits is not guaranteed. Participants will receive a certificate of completion, which may be used toward professional licensure.
Instructor: Nicole Dawson, PT, PhD, FNAP
Instructor Bio:
Nicole Dawson, PT, PhD, FNAP is an Associate Professor in the Division of Physical Therapy of the College of Health Professions and Sciences at the University of Central Florida and Director of the ALIVEÔ (Aging & Longevity Initiatives for Vitality & Enrichment) Lab at UCF. Dr. Dawson is a Board Certified Geriatric Physical Therapist Emeritus with over 20 years of clinical experience along with a PhD in Adult Development & Aging Psychology from Cleveland State University. She has been recognized for excellence in her field by the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy through receipt of the Distinguished Educator Award, the American Physical Therapy Association being awarded the Margaret L. Moore Outstanding New Academic Faculty Award and is a Distinguished Scholar Fellow in the National Academies of Practice. Her current area of research includes developing non-pharmacological interventions to improve functional and psychosocial outcomes in older adults with chronic disease including those with dementia, gaining a better understanding of the disability experience as well as training and development of the eldercare workforce. Dr. Dawson is published in peer-reviewed journals including The Gerontologist, Dementia, and the Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy. Her consulting company, Golden Age Consultants, aims to facilitate the successful aging of older adults. She trains allied health professionals through continuing education and has presented at numerous international and national conferences about aging and geriatric rehabilitation.
Financial Disclosure:
Nicole will receive an honorarium for teaching this course.
Non‑financial Disclosure:
Nicole has no non-financial relationships to disclose.
Join us for a dynamic and clinically relevant course designed for rehabilitation professionals working with older adults. This evidence-based presentation explores the physiological, functional, and psychosocial complexities of aging and provides practical strategies for assessment and intervention.
As the aging population grows, understanding the mechanisms behind functional decline becomes increasingly important. This course begins by examining age-related changes in the musculoskeletal system, posture, and gait, and how these changes contribute to changes in function. Participants will learn how to recognize barriers to successful treatment and how negative stereotypes about aging can impact care environments and patient outcomes.
A major focus of the course is functional assessment. Participants will be introduced to a wide range of validated tools and their use in daily practice. Each tool is discussed in terms of its clinical utility, normative values, and psychometric properties. Attendees will learn how to select appropriate assessments based on patient presentation and how to interpret results to guide treatment planning.
The course also covers exercise prescription tailored to older adults. Using the Physical Stress Theory and principles of specificity, participants will explore how to prescribe and progress strength, balance, flexibility, and aerobic training. Methods for monitoring and adjusting dosage are reviewed to ensure safe and effective programming.
Special populations are addressed in detail, including individuals with osteoarthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, dementia, and frailty. The course provides practical modifications and safety considerations to help clinicians tailor interventions to meet the unique needs of these groups. Real-world case studies are integrated throughout the course to reinforce learning and promote clinical application. Participants will analyze objective data, identify impairments, and develop individualized plans of care that reflect best practices and current research.
Regardless of your practice setting, this course will enhance your ability to deliver high-quality, person-centered care to your older adults. You’ll leave with the tools to make informed clinical decisions, justify skilled therapy through documentation, and empower older adults to maintain independence and improve quality of life.
Join us and transform your approach to geriatric rehabilitation—because every step toward function is a step toward independence.
Upon completion of this course, the participant should be able to:
2. Identify and differentiate between various functional assessment tools used in geriatric rehabilitation, including their clinical applications and normative values.
3. Select appropriate assessment tools based on patient presentation, environmental factors, and desired outcomes.
4. Interpret assessment results to formulate individualized treatment plans addressing strength, balance, mobility, and endurance deficits.
5. Document functional status and response to treatment to support the need for skilled therapy interventions.
6. Develop exercise prescriptions tailored to older adults, incorporating mode, intensity, frequency, duration, and progression.
7. Evaluate the impact of comorbidities and psychosocial factors on exercise tolerance and adherence in older adult populations.
8. Design safe and effective intervention strategies for special populations such as individuals with dementia, cardiovascular disease, or osteoporosis
Hour 1: Foundations of Aging and Functional Decline (60 minutes)
Introduction and course overview (10 min)
Age-related changes in musculoskeletal, postural, and gait systems (30 min)
Impact of stereotypes and learned helplessness on function (20 min)
Overview of evidence-based assessment tools (15 min)
Chair stand tests, grip strength, heel-rise, arm curl (30 min)
Normative values and interpretation (15 min)
Balance testing: Berg, Functional Reach, FAB, FSST, One-Leg Stance (30 min)
Aerobic capacity: 6MWT, 2-minute step, 400-meter walk (20 min)
Gait speed and mobility assessments (10 min)
Physical Stress Theory and specificity (20 min)
Prescribing strength, balance, flexibility, and aerobic training (30 min)
Measuring intensity: RPE, RM, talk test (10 min)
Considerations for OA, DM, HTN, osteoporosis, CVD, dementia, frailty (40 min)
Safety, contraindications, and tailoring interventions (20 min)
Guided analysis of 2–3 case studies (30 min)
Group discussion and treatment planning (20 min)
Wrap-up, Q&A, and post-course reflection (10 min)
Contact Information
M Health Fairview Rehab Services Continuing Education Department
Email: rehabce@fairview.org
Phone: 612-672-5607