Recently, LincolnHealth Occupational Therapist Megan McCartney referred a patient who was showing signs of cognitive decline to a physician, who diagnosed a problem with her thyroid.

Once the thyroid issue was addressed, the woman’s problems with short term memory greatly improved.

That story is fairly typical, said McCartney, and it is the primary reason that LincolnHealth is offering free cognition screenings on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

McCartney and other LincolnHealth occupational therapists will offer private, free and confidential screenings to help people determine if they may be experiencing cognitive changes outside of those normally associated with aging.

The fear of a diagnosis of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, prevents many people from seeking help when they or a family member begins to experience cognitive decline.

McCartney said that often, the cause can be something as simple and as correctable as a vitamin d deficit. In other cases, Cathy Ladd, COTA/L, said problems may be associated with the medications the person is taking.

Medical research is also developing promising new therapies that may slow the progress of dementias, but because no therapy has been proven to reverse dementia, it is very important that people who do have a form of dementia be diagnosed as soon as possible.

LincolnHealth therapists also help people with dementia and their families develop strategies to cope with the disease and maintain quality of life for as long as possible.

“We focus on the family and everyone who is involved,” said McCartney. “What we can do is offer a lot of support and a lot of education to the family. Many times, things are less scary once you know why people are doing the things they are doing.”

A support group for people who care for someone with dementia meets at Chase Point Assisted Living, on the Miles Campus of LincolnHealth, on the first Thursday of each month at 10 a.m.

“Our goal is to help people stay in their homes and stay as safe as they possibly can,” said Occupational Therapist Susan Hilton, who will also be taking part in the screening.

For more information about the screenings or about services that can improve quality of life for people with dementia and their families, call 563-4518.