Cognitive Impairments
Dementia Programs, Family Support, Primary Progressive Aphasia Treatment
Mild Cognitive Impairment
Mild cognitive impairments are often the first sign that a person may be developing dementia.
Research-proven strategies can help prevent a mild cognitive impairment from progressing to dementia. Early Intervention with a research-based individualized brain fitness program can help.
Supports include individualized plans for
Cognitive Communication Stimulation
Tools and Strategies for maintaining independence
Communication and memory strategies capitalizing on the individual’s strengths and preferences.
Development of external tools like memory books
Individualized effective strategies to decrease wandering, and prevent and de-escalate agitation
Family Coaching
As dementia advances, often the best way to help the individual is by focusing on the family and caregivers.
A Speech Pathologist can
Use friendly interactions to assess your loved one in their familiar home environment
Determine communication strengths and challenges
Teach care partners effective communication strategies and techniques to adapt the environment
Reduce challenging behaviors and agitation by teaching prevention, de-escalation, environmental modifications, and communication technique.
Speech Therapy for Cognition - How it Works
Together we will discuss goals and priorities, develop a personalized plan to maximize and maintain function, and facilitate quality communication.
Online sessions available for convenience and privacy.
In home sessions are convenient, functional, and encourages safety and independence in the home. People with dementia are often more confident and comfortable in familiar environments.
Follow up sessions - in person or online encourages follow through with home programs, allows us problem solve with life changes, as well as 1:1 support for practicing cognitive stimulation or other “brain training” programs. Follow up sessions can be with the client or with the family members, depending on their needs.
As dementia progresses, needs change. The plan also needs to change. Ongoing access to follow up sessions are on an as-needed basis. This means when life changes, follow up appointments can be used to change your plan. No need to start over with a new therapist or a full formal evaluations.
Payment
Initial program set-up is often covered by Medicare Part B under outpatient speech therapy.
1:1 meetings with caregivers, unlimited follow ups and ongoing support meetings on your schedule, and individualized cognitive stimulation practice are typically not covered by insurance and available private pay.