Bio:

Belinda Ordonez MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, CHPN has nearly 27 years of experience in the care of advanced illnesses in the settings of palliative care, hospice care and geriatrics. Currently practicing in the specialty of Dementia, providing consults and education. Provides education for medical staff, residents, medical students, care facilities, and the community with topics surrounding advanced illness including dementia.

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this activity, the learner should be able to:

1. Describe at least 3 cognitive or functional effects of global brain atrophy in persons with advancing dementia.

2. Identify at least 2 common unmet needs or protective responses in persons with dementia that are often misunderstood as behaviors.

3. Provide at least 3 examples of best practices for methods to effectively interpret and respond using customized approaches to meet the unmet needs and/or improve communication in persons   with dementia.

 4. Identify common medication classes that can worsen cognition and function in dementia.