Prevention
The risk of cognitive impairment increases with age. The tools and resources in this section can be implemented throughout the physician-patient relationship as you engage in regular conversations about maintaining cognitive health.
Suggested Physician Resources
Talking With Your Older Patient: A Clinician’s Handbook
From the National Institute on Aging, this handbook offers techniques and approaches to help clinicians with diagnosis, promote treatment adherence, and improve patient and provider satisfaction. The handbook is available to print or order online.
Mini-Nutritional Assessment
The Mini-Nutritional Assessment is validated for screening in patients aged 65 and older who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. The assessment makes intervention easier and quicker and is the preferred form for clinical use. Information about the validity of screening tools can be found here.
Patient, Family, and Caregiver Resources
Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease: What Do We Know?
The National Institute on Aging developed a resource on preventing Alzheimer’s disease that can be downloaded for the patient, family, and other caregivers. The booklet provides the background on risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, offers preventive strategies, and ways to navigate treatments.
Talking With Your Doctor: A Guide for Older People
Proper treatment and the physician-patient relationship are equally important to health care. Patients often do not know what questions they should ask, or how to make sure they are getting all the information they need during their visits. This booklet from the National Institute on Aging is a patient’s guide to the physician-patient relationship, encouraging an active patient role in their care.
Forgetfulness: Knowing When to Ask for Help
The National Institute on Aging developed a patient and family resource that addresses a common symptom of aging: forgetfulness. This guide addresses the causes of memory loss, offers tips for keeping the memory sharp, and discusses actions that can be taken to follow up on concerns. The resource is available to print or order online, and has a Spanish version.
Safe Use of Medicines
The National Institute on Aging provides a resource for patients, families, and caregivers to provide assistance on the safe use of medicines. This booklet provides tips to make a plan at home for the safe use of medicines, including keeping a list of all medicines, discussing medicines with the pharmacist, and asking the right questions of your doctor.