Ageism: Combatting Stereotypes – New Online CE

Ageism: Combatting Stereotypes is a new 1-hour online continuing education (CE) course that examines ageist stereotypes and provides strategies to combat them.

Ageism: Combatting Stereotypes is a new 1-hour online CE course that examines ageist stereotypes and provides strategies to combat them.

Ageism is defined as discrimination against older people because of negative and inaccurate stereotypes—and it’s so ingrained in our culture that we often don’t even notice. Ageism includes the tendency to regard older persons as debilitated, unworthy of attention, or unsuitable for employment or other meaningful activity. If we have the good fortune to live a long life, inaccurate stereotypes about aging will harm all of us.

The first goal of this course is to heighten your awareness of ageism and how it impacts patient care. We will review theoretical constructs of ageism; research evidence of its existence in Western culture and in healthcare in particular; and consider the common negative consequences of this prejudice. The second goal of this course is to consider the ways in which we combat ageism at both the personal and institutional levels. Finally, we will examine both research and case examples of successful or “robust” aging and highlight supercentenarians whose accomplishments provide living proof that disputes ageist beliefs. Course #11-53 | 2023 | 23 pages | 10 posttest questions

About the Author:

Catherine S. Spayd, PhD, is a clinical psychologist in independent, private practice in Duncansville, PA. Dr. Spayd received her Master’s and PhD degrees in Clinical Psychology from Penn State University. She completed a pre-doctoral internship in clinical psychology at Friends Hospital in Philadelphia, PA, and a post-doctoral fellowship in geropsychology at Philadelphia Geriatric Center. Dr. Spayd has been a licensed psychologist in Pennsylvania since 1991. Before developing a full-time private practice in 2000, she worked for 2 years as a Rehabilitation Psychologist at Mercy Regional Health System, in Altoona, PA. She then created, developed and was Clinical Director for 6 years at PathWays, Bon Secours-Holy Family Hospital’s inpatient and partial hospitalization geropsychiatric programs. Dr. Spayd was appointed as a member of the Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology in October of 2014.

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Professional Development Resources is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Professional Development Resources maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC ACEP #5590); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB Provider #1046, ACE Program); the Continuing Education Board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA Provider #AAUM); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA Provider #3159); the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR Provider #PR001); the Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners; the Florida Boards of Social Work, Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology and Office of School Psychology, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Dietetics and Nutrition, and Occupational Therapy Practice; the Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners – Occupational Therapy; the Mississippi MSDoH Bureau of Professional Licensure – Occupational Therapy; the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists (#PSY-0145), State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors (#MHC-0135) and marriage and family therapists (#MFT-0100), and the State Board for Social Workers an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers (#SW-0664); the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and MFT Board (#RCST100501) and Speech and Hearing Professionals Board; the South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors and Therapists (#193), Examiners in Psychology, Social Worker Examiners, Occupational Therapy, and Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; the Tennessee Board of Occupational Therapy; the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (#114) and State Board of Social Worker Examiners (#5678); the West Virginia Board of Social Work; the Wyoming Board of Psychology; and is CE Broker compliant  (#50-1635 – all courses are reported within a few days of completion).

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