| The Overall goal is to help client and family
members gain a better understanding of difficulties
that he or she is having with memory and associated
thinking skills and develop strategies to compensate
for these problems.
Normal aging, a variety of physical disease , and a
variety of neurological conditions can lead to problems
with attention, memory, organization, and problem solving.
The Memory Clinic at the Center for Neurorehabilitation
Services (CNS) addresses these problems through assessment,
education, compensatory strategies, and environmental
modifications.
An individualized program is developed for each client.
The first step includes evaluations by neuropsychology
and occupational therapy. Then the client and family
members, along with appropriate service professionals,
set goals for a rehabilitation plan.
Depending on the needs of the client several options
for follow-up care are available, including the following.
Occupational Therapy works with the client and family
members to address difficulties shown on the assessment.
This can include compensatory strategies to address
problems with attention, memory, or problem solving
that may be interfering with the client's ability to
function adequately at home or in the community. The
client's home may be evaluated to assess safety issues,
and appropriate modifications will be recommended. The
ability to safely operate a motor vehicle may be assessed
through our Adaptive Driving Program.
Psychological Services provides emotional support and
knowledge for both the client and family. Strategies
to deal with changes in emotional control, communication,
and ways of resolving depression and anxiety are reviewed.
Long-term planning issues are addressed. The effects
of cognitive difficulties on family roles and communication
are considered. The impact of the client's problems
on the emotional health of the family are explored.
Our interdisciplinary team has provided neurorehabilitation
since the 1980s. In addition to a board certified neuropsychologist,
clinical neurologist, and physiatrist the team consists
of therapists who hold degrees in psychology, counseling,
speech and language pathology, occupational therapy,
vocational rehabilitation, social work, music therapy
and physical therapy.
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