Study Guide

Objective

Make a Meaningful Impact: Deepen Your Expertise in Supporting the Functional Ability of Older Adults!
This course provides you with practical tools for assessing and supporting functional ability in a client-centered way.

After completing this course, you will:

- Be able to describe the concept of functional ability within the ICF framework.
- Be able to assess the functional ability of older adults using high-quality evaluation methods and apply the results in goal setting and monitoring changes.
- Be able to set GAS goals collaboratively with the client.
- Know strategies to increase clients' daily activity levels.
- Be able to document functional ability in a client-centered manner.
- Understand how to utilize networks to support the functional ability of older adults.

Content

-Supporting the Functional Ability of Older Adults – A Key to Well-being and Independence
Supporting the functional ability of older adults promotes independent living, reduces the need for assistance, and helps prevent accidents. It also lowers healthcare costs and contributes to an age-friendly society where older adults are equal participants. Maintaining functional ability enhances mental health, social well-being, and ensures a dignified aging process. Even small actions, such as increasing physical activity and social support, can significantly improve the quality of life for older adults.

Course Topics:
- Functional ability of older adults (ICF)
- Assessment of functional ability in older adults
- Setting GAS (Goal Attainment Scaling) goals
- Strategies to improve and maintain functional ability
- Client-centered documentation of functional capacity
- Networks supporting the functional ability of older adults

This course is suitable for professionals in the social and healthcare sector as well as students preparing for a career in the field.

Location and time

In the Moodle platform during 1.6.-31.7.2025. Late submissions will not be assessed.

Materials

Material will be in the Moodle platform.

Teaching methods

Enhance Your Skills in Assessing and Supporting the Functional Capacity of Older Adults

This inspiring and practical course provides a comprehensive set of tools for the thorough assessment and support of older adults' functional capacity. The course is a self-paced online study module, where you will explore the assessment and support of older adults' functional capacity through materials available in Moodle, including websites, videos, and presentations.

As an applied assignment, you will interpret the measurement results of a functional capacity assessment conducted for a case client and create a concrete plan to enhance their daily activity. Finally, you will record a reflection video summarizing your learning from the course.

Through this course, you will learn to:

Systematically and client-centeredly assess the functional capacity of older adults.
Define individual GAS (Goal Attainment Scaling) objectives to promote functional capacity.
Identify and apply methods to improve and maintain functional capacity.
Clearly and effectively document functional capacity data.
Collaborate within networks that support the well-being of older adults.

Completion alternatives

No optional completion methods.

Student workload

The course scope is 5 ECTS credits, which corresponds to 135 hours of student workload.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

Requirements for a Passing Performance:

- All provided test results have been analyzed: What does each test result indicate about the case client's functional capacity?
- Two GAS goals have been formulated for the case client on Kela's form, following a five-level scale.
- A daily activity plan has been created for the case client based on the measurement results and GAS goals.
- The documentation task entries have been adjusted to describe functional capacity.
- The reflection task has been completed with appropriate responses to the given questions.

Evaluation scale

Approved/Rejected

Assessment methods and criteria

The course is assessed on a pass/fail scale based on the submitted final report and reflection.