CSW-G study plan
CSW-G · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Gerontology
Map the CSW-G gerontology domain into its core subareas (demographics, theories of aging, normal vs. pathologic aging) and note the weight each carries on the exam outline
Define and correctly distinguish the major biologic theories of aging (programmed, free-radical, telomere, immunologic) without confusing their mechanisms
Build a one-page glossary of aging terminology (senescence, homeostasis, frailty, comorbidity) that you can self-quiz from
Identify the demographic trends and life-expectancy concepts most likely to be tested as factual recall items
Your checkpoint
A one-page domain map plus a 25-term aging glossary, both self-quizzed once with at least 80% recall
Gerontology
Describe normal physiologic changes of aging across cardiovascular, renal, pulmonary, and neurologic systems and separate them from disease
Explain how altered pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in older adults change drug handling (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion)
Apply the concept of homeostenosis to predict why older adults decompensate under stress
Practice 30 recall and application items on normal aging and score them, logging every miss by subarea
Your checkpoint
A system-by-system chart of normal aging changes (minimum six systems) plus a scored 30-item practice set with an error log
Gerontology
Define frailty using validated frameworks and distinguish it from disability and comorbidity
List the criteria and screening tools used to identify frailty and sarcopenia in older adults
Explain the physiologic basis of age-related decline in muscle mass, bone density, and immune function
Interpret common geriatric assessment instruments (gait speed, grip strength, functional scales) and what abnormal values signal
Your checkpoint
A written comparison table of frailty, disability, and comorbidity with at least three distinguishing criteria each, plus five worked interpretation examples
Gerontology
Summarize the geriatric syndromes (falls, delirium, incontinence, pressure injury, polypharmacy) and their shared risk factors
Differentiate delirium from dementia and depression using onset, course, and attention features
Explain the multifactorial etiology of falls and the components of a multifactorial fall-risk assessment
Complete a timed 40-item mixed practice exam across the whole gerontology domain and analyze results by subarea
Your checkpoint
A timed 40-item practice exam with a written subarea score breakdown identifying your two weakest areas
Milestones
Week 4: Score at least 70% on the timed 40-item mixed practice exam and have a written list of your two weakest subareas with a plan to close them in weeks 5-6
Week 6: Explain the pathophysiology, risk factors, and assessment approach for at least five geriatric syndromes from memory in under 10 minutes without notes
Week 8: Score at least 80% on a full-length timed practice exam and show that no single subarea falls below 65%