Dr. Bruce Ferrell and Edith O'Neil-Page, RN, MSN, will present a session on "Pain Management" that will help participants gain an understanding of optimal pain assessment in frail nursing home patients, the use of assessment tools, and the role of MDS 3.0. Further objectives of the presentations are to help participants choose optimal medication management options; review the risks, adverse effects, benefits and alternatives of various approaches; clarify appropriate monitoring plans and suggest ways of preparing patient-specific, pain-relieving, regimens.

Dr. Alessi will present a lecture on "Sleep Problems in Long-term Care." She will review age-related changes in the sleep pattern and sleep structure that may manifest in frail older adults who reside in long-term care settings and she will discuss particular aspects of everyday life in an LTC setting that influence sleep habits. Finally, Dr. Alessi will review evidence-based behavioral and pharmacological interventions for treating sleep disturbances in an LTC setting, demonstrating ways to improve sleep pattern and sleep hygiene in LTC patients.

Attendees will have the opportunity later during the annual meeting to create their own individualized action plans to implement in their own facilities. Please join us for what promises to be a stimulating and cutting-edge presentation on these two important topics that are so vital to quality of life in nursing home residents!