Cognition, what exactly does that mean? Well in its simplest form, cognition refers to a set of mental processes including but not limited to memory, attention, problem solving, language and perception.

Lately it seems as if we are inundated with products, computer games and books claiming to keep our brains sharp or to maximize our brain potential - we see it with games like "Brain Age" for our Nintendo DS or websites like lumosity.com that offers brain training games - and with good reason. According to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, "keeping your brain active may help reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease."

Of course there are many factors contributing to the onset of Alzheimer's disease and many other illnesses that affect cognition but research supports the role of cognitive stimulation in enhancing brain activity and producing healthier brains overall.

One of our roles as occupational therapists at SJHC is to assess cognition and provide strategies to either remediate or compensate for deficits observed. Across the different programs, this can take on many different forms. For example, in the Elderly Community Health Services (ECHS), a patient may be assessed to determine whether or not she has the underlying skills required to continue driving. In terms of treatment, in ECHS we attempt to address the important role of cognitive stimulation. To this end ECHS patients have the opportunity to participate in an Exercise and Cognitive Group - developed by both an occupational and physical therapist. This group has a didactic component emphasizing the importance of both physical and cognitive exercises to overall brain health.

In mental health, our OT's may be asked to assess an individual's cognitive status to determine job readiness or return to school. Through the Recovery Support Program, our patients are able to participate in a Memory Skills Group that again is didactic in nature and allows patients to practice learned skills in a non-threatening social environment.

In the ER, the OT assessment can assist to determine whether a patient should be admitted to hospital if they were not coping at home and do not demonstrate the ability or resources to manage their care and keep them self safe at home. The functional and cognitive assessments are instrumental in the decision to send a patient home without admission if they demonstrate that they are safe and cognitively able to manage their daily routine and care needs.

Occupational therapy in the acute care setting is focussed on assessing the functional and cognitive status of the patient. The results of this assessment can determine whether a patient is able to return home and safely manage their daily activities and health care needs.

We use a variety of cognitive assessments to analyze the components of thinking that impact an individual's functional performance. This may include an evaluation of memory, attention, spatial skills, perception and judgement. The results of these assessments can indicate potential activities where a patient may have difficulty such as…remembering to take pills or insulin properly, remembering to turn off the stove, the ability to respond in an emergency and call for help when required.

Some of the strategies that OT may recommend to compensate for memory impairments may include using a blister pack to organize medications, using the microwave instead of oven, using an automatic switch-off kettle, posting emergency numbers by the phone. By making some simple accommodations in the home and linking to local community resources to provide some extra support, many of our patients are able to return home to live independently sooner and for longer.

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Page last updated: April 30, 2010