Geriatric Assessment Service

IOA's Assessment Service specializes in providing evaluations of a person's cognitive strengths, vulnerabilities and needs. Common concerns that trigger requests for an evaluation include: memory loss, capacity to make medical or legal decisions, cargiver needs, family stress and functional ability. Our assessments are performed by clinicians who are psychologists with expertise in geropsychology (a psychological specialty of working with older adults) and neuropsychology (a psychological specialty focused on understanding brain-behavior relationships).

What happens in an evaluation?

The first step of an evaluation is the phone intake. Our intake specialists will clarify the referral question and gather basic background and billing information. Next, you will be contacted by the clinician to set up an appointment. Assessments may be conducted over one or two sessions, depending on the particular situation. During the assessment, we conduct a clinical interview, and then perform tasks that provide information in different cognitive domains (such as attention, memory, language, etc.). Afterwards, the clinician will write a report addressing the referral question and making specific care recommendations. Depending on the needs of the client and/or the referring party, feedback about an evaluation can either be via the written report, a phone call or a face-to-face meeting.

Care Recommendations

Specific recommendations for care are made based on a thorough understanding of the client's medical, psychological, cognitive, functional and spiritual needs, and his or her support structure. When appropriate, key people involved in the client’s life are brought into discussions about future care.

House calls

Assessments are available in the client’s home, at our clinic, or at another location convenient to the client.

Short wait lists

Clients are usually seen within two weeks of initial contact. Assessments are completed within two weeks of our last visit with the client. Urgent requests are also accommodated whenever possible.