Help in dealing with cognitive decline

Identifying and treating cognitive decline in elderly patients can often be tricky, but a service at Kallangur is helping patients and their families.

Healthy Ageing Assessment and Rehabilitation Team (HAART) aims to improve older people's wellbeing, functional capacity, independence and quality of life after a significant health event or injury.

Community and Oral Health Senior Neuropsychologist Katie Veretennikoff is part of the team and works with dieticians, occupational therapists, geriatricians, social workers and physiotherapists, to identify older people needing cognitive support.

“It can be tricky, when diagnosing cognitive decline, as the family is saying that there is an issue but the patient doesn’t see a problem with their cognition,” she says.

“In the case of Alzheimer’s, it effects the memory so that the older person doesn’t remember things like conversations.

“They lack the insight or don’t see that their memory loss is potentially a problem.”

The Healthy Ageing Assessment and Rehabilitation Team (HAART) has delivered thousands of appointments and supports hundreds of patients each year to get their lives back on track.

The service provides rehabilitation for patients 65 years and older (or older than 50 years for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) with rapid assessment, care pathway planning and rehabilitation.

HAART can be accessed by a GP referral or phoning 3285 0066 (seven days a week) to speak to an intake clinician who can assist.

Decline ‘dismissed’

Katie says there are many reasons cognitive decline is often overlooked or missed in the community.

“It is often just dismissed as part of people getting older,” she says.

“However, the subject is becoming more relevant as our population ages. Cognitive decline isn’t something that is relevant for many young people unless they have a stroke or have an acquired brain injury, so it doesn’t get the attention it deserves.

“For the older person, it is important that we bring a holistic approach to health and wellbeing, and not just focus on physical symptoms.

“It is critical that we pick up cognitive decline early and support people to have a longer, more healthy life. By doing it well, we also give the patient and their family an understanding of what is going on so that they can plan appropriately.”

Katie studied a Bachelor of Psychological Science (with honours) and completed her Doctor of Psychology (in Neuropsychologist and Clinical Psychology) at the University of Queensland.

“It is a very niche area for a psychologist to become a neuropsychologist, but I have always had an interest in the brain and its impact on behaviour, emotions and how we function,” she says.

“I also enjoy the diagnostic type of work, as at times, it is like figuring out a puzzle.”