Webinar Series: Seizures and Epilepsy In Older Adults

Epilepsy News From: Wednesday, October 09, 2019

Originally published October 9, 2019

Update

Watch the recordings of these webinars below.

Epilepsy affects more than 3.4 million individuals in the United States, including close to 1 million older adults (age 55+). The incidence of seizures and epilepsy increases in older adults. Each year, more than 50,000 new cases of epilepsy occur in people over age 60.

In 1 out of 2 older adults, the cause of epilepsy is unknown.

Webinars for Health Care Professionals

Providing accessible epilepsy training to a wide range of post-acute and long-term care professionals will increase the likelihood that seniors with epilepsy receive timely and appropriate care tailored to their specific health needs. Care that includes early identification of seizures, the appropriate management of seizures, and awareness of impact and risks which are present for older adults diagnosed with epilepsy.

 

The Epilepsy Foundation has created the following three online learning modules to train professionals caring for older adults with epilepsy.

Seizure Identification and Epilepsy Basics

Recorded Wednesday, October 30, 2019

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Guest Speaker

Alice Lam MD, PhD, is an epileptologist and clinical neurophysiologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), and an assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School. Her translational research program focuses on the intersection between epilepsy and the neurodegenerative diseases. As a physician, she cares for patients in both the Epilepsy Clinic as well as the Memory Disorders Clinic at MGH.

Learning Objectives

  • Identifying seizures in older adults
  • Epidemiology of epilepsy
  • Evaluating epilepsy
  • Common seizure types
  • Signs and symptoms of seizures in older adults
  • Risk factors for developing epilepsy in older adults
  • Seizure First Aid

Epilepsy: Treatment Considerations in Older Adults

Recorded Wednesday, November 6, 2019

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Guest Speaker

Michael Gruenthal MD, PhD, is an epileptologist who serves on the Professional Advisory Board of the Epilepsy Foundation and the Board of Directors of the Epilepsy Foundation of Kentuckiana. He is professor emeritus of neurology at Albany Medical College, where he was chair of neurology, director of the Neurosciences Institute and senior associate dean for clinical affairs.

Learning Objectives

  • Medical management of seizures in older adults
  • Drug dosing and metabolism
  • Common drug-to-drug interactions
  • Possible side effects of anti-seizure medications
  • Other treatment options
  • Seizure First Aid

Epilepsy: Impact and Risks in Older Adults

Recorded Wednesday, November 13, 2019

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Guest Speaker

Lindsay Schommer MSN, APRN, is an epilepsy nurse practitioner and coordinator of the Epilepsy Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH. She is also an instructor in neurology at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth.

Learning Objectives

  • Physical and emotional impact of epilepsy and treatment of epilepsy
  • Risks of seizures and epilepsy in older adults
  • Independent living for older adults with epilepsy
  • Special considerations in nursing home patients
  • Caregiver stress
  • Seizure First Aid

Course Director and Moderator

 

Elaine T. Kiriakopoulos MD, MSc, is an epileptologist; the director of health communications and engagement at the Epilepsy Foundation; and a clinical research associate at the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.

Webinar series brought to you with support from Sunovion.

Course materials have been approved by the Epilepsy Foundation Professional Advisory Board.

Authored by

Epilepsy Foundation Health Communications

Reviewed by

Epilepsy Foundation Communications

Reviewed Date

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

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