8 Self-Paced Courses on Aging, Health, and Care

At our recent Aging Summit, one theme stood out: knowledge + care is the key to helping older adults thrive. Professionals across counseling, psychology, nursing, and social work are looking for practical, research-based tools to address the unique challenges of aging.

To support that mission, we’ve curated 8 self-paced CE courses that spotlight innovation, compassion, and evidence-based practices in aging. From creativity to cognitive health, from substance misuse prevention to caregiver support, these courses are designed to give you actionable strategies for your work with older adults.

1. Creativity and Art Therapies to Promote Healthy Aging (1.25 CE)

Discover how creative expression helps prevent common age-related conditions, nurture resilience, and improve mental health. Learn about different art therapy interventions, their proven benefits, and future directions for research.

Recommended For

Counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, and social workers. This course is appropriate for all levels of knowledge.

Course Objectives:

After taking this course, you should be able to:

• Describe the goal of art therapies (ATs).
• List at least four types of AT interventions.
• Summarize the efficacy of ATs.
• Discuss areas for future research in AT.

2. Promoting Successful Cognitive Aging: A Ten-Year Update (3.25 CE)

Get the latest evidence on brain-healthy behaviors and dementia prevention. This update reviews modifiable risk factors, behavioral strategies, and practical interventions to support successful cognitive aging.

Recommended For

Counselors, marriage and family therapists,nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians, psychologists and social workers. This course is appropriate for all levels of knowledge.

Course Objectives:

After taking this course, you should be able to:

• Define dementia and mild cognitive impairment.
• Discuss the impact of dementia on the health care system.
• List at least 5 modifiable risk factors for dementia.
• List 2 behavioral change strategies to help individuals reduce modifiable risks for dementia.

3. Characterizing Dementia Caregiver Style in Managing Care Challenges: Cognitive and Behavioral Components (1 CE)

Family caregivers use different styles when managing the challenges of dementia. This course identifies five distinct caregiver approaches and offers strategies to better support both caregivers and individuals with dementia.

Recommended For

Counselors, doctors, marriage and family therapists, nurses, nurse practitioners, psychologists and social workers. This course is appropriate for all levels of knowledge.

Course Objectives:

After taking this course, you should be able to:

• Discuss the impact of different caregiver styles on both the lived experience of caregivers and individuals with dementia, with a focus on emotion management and practical considerations for accessing formal support services.
• Identify and describe the five distinct caregiver styles in relation to managing the needs and well-being of individuals with dementia.
• Outline the research design and methodology used in the study, including key considerations and limitations.

4. A Scoping Review of The Individual Socio-Cultural Environmental and Commercial Determinants of Gambling for Older Adults (1.25 CE)

Explore how individual, social, environmental, and commercial factors shape gambling behaviors in older adults. Gain insight into public health implications and harm-prevention strategies tailored to this growing concern.

Recommended For

Counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists and social workers. This course is appropriate for intermediate and above levels of knowledge.

Course Objectives:

After taking this course, you should be able to:

• Define the multi-dimensional determinants of gambling among older adults
• Identify the public health implications of gambling among older adults
• Evaluate strategies for harm prevention and public health interventions

5. Examination of the Problem Gambling Severity Index for Use with Older Adults: A Rasch Model Approach (1.25 CE)

How effective is the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) with older populations? This course examines its strengths, limitations, and implications for clinicians, while introducing advanced statistical perspectives on assessment.

Recommended For

Counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists and social workers. This course is appropriate for intermediate and above levels of knowledge.

Course Objectives:

After taking this course, you should be able to:

• Describe the application of the Rasch model for assessing gambling severity among older adults
• Identify the limitations of the PGSI in assessing gambling severity in older adults
• Evaluate the implications of using standardized measures for older populations

6. Psychological Well-Being and Cognitive Aging Across Diverse Populations (1 CE)

Learn how psychological well-being—life satisfaction, positive affect, sense of purpose—interacts with cognitive health among Black, Native American, and White older adults. This course emphasizes equity in dementia research and culturally responsive care.

Recommended For

Counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists and social workers. This course is appropriate for all levels of knowledge.

Course Objectives:

After taking this course, you should be able to:

• Define the components of psychological well-being (PWB) and how they relate to cognitive aging.
• Identify similarities and differences in psychological well-being (PWB) and cognitive aging patterns among racial groups, including Black, Native American, and White populations.
• Describe potential protective factors that could modify cognitive decline in vulnerable populations, such as older adults and racial/ethnic minorities.

7. Problematic Opioid Use Among Older Adults: Outcomes and Treatment (1 CE)

With rising opioid misuse among older adults, this course reviews prevalence, risk factors, and treatment options. Gain clarity on medication-assisted treatment, contraindications, and gaps in current research.

Recommended For

Counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists and social workers. This course is appropriate for all levels of knowledge.

Course Objectives:

After taking this course, you should be able to:

• Outline previous research regarding older adults with OUD and problematic opioid use.
• List available medication assisted treatment options and their benefits and contraindications.
• Describe deficiencies in current research as well as treatment options for the older adult population with problematic opioid use.

8. Strategies for Preventing Substance Misuse in Older Adults (1.5 CE)

This practical course introduces the Integrated Approach and socio-ecological models for prevention. Learn from real-world programs in New York, Ohio, and Indiana, and explore how to build community-level support for wellness.

Recommended For

Counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists and social workers. This course is appropriate for all levels of knowledge.

Course Objectives:

After taking this course, you should be able to:

• Discuss the prevalence of substance misuse in older adults.
• Identify aspects of the Integrated Approach and Socio-ecological model.
• Describe successful programs to address older adult substance misuse.