Body Changes with Age: Digestive System
This 30-minute course provides non-medical caregivers with a practical understanding of how the digestive system changes with age and how to provide respectful, person-centered care in response. Caregivers will explore how slower digestion, reduced enzyme production, and weakened abdominal muscles affect comfort, appetite, and elimination.
The course also covers how common medications may cause or worsen digestive symptoms such as constipation, nausea, and dry mouth. Learners will gain strategies for observing and reporting these changes promptly. In addition, the course teaches how to support clients through meal pacing, hydration, toileting support, and texture-adapted, digestion-friendly foods that promote safety and well-being. Scenario-based learning and real-world caregiver tips are included to help learners apply their knowledge confidently in daily care routines.
30 mins Certificate included 100% online English Audio & Captions
Learning Objectives
What you'll learn
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
- Describe the anatomy and function of the digestive system.
- Explain how aging affects digestion, absorption, and elimination.
- Identify common digestive concerns in older adults (e.g., constipation, GERD, dysphagia).
- Understand how medication side effects can impact digestive comfort and function.
- Recognize and report signs of distress such as nausea, reduced appetite, or bloating.
- Support comfort through meal pacing, hydration, toileting, food texture adjustments, and digestion-friendly food choices.
- Document observations clearly and follow agency protocols for timely reporting.
What's inside
This course includes
How-to instructional videos
Interactive learning activities
Knowledge checks throughout
Audio narration
Closed captions (accessibility)
Certificate of completion
Scenario-based videos
Downloadable checklists
Mobile-friendly access
Progress saving (resume anytime)
