Dementia Resources for Health Professionals: Assessing Cognitive Impairment in Older Patients

This guide is meant for primary care practitioners to use in screening for cognitive impairment in older adults. It explains the importance of screening, when it should be done, and how to work it into visits. The guide also provides links to screening tools and other sources of information. Identifying the causes of cognitive impairment early provides benefits to older adults, because it creates opportunities to take steps like: 

• Getting treatment for underlying causes
• Creating plans for long-term care
• Making sure the older adult has a strong support system that includes help with health, legal, and financial issues
• Providing the older adult with access to other important resources