For the past 15 years, the Memory Clinic at Shaare Zedek Medical Center has been assisting people suffering from cognitive decline, including memory loss, Alzheimer's disease, and other dementias, with the aim of improving their quality of life and daily functioning. The clinic operates with a multi-disciplinary team of experts in geriatrics, neurology, occupational therapy, and social work, providing professional and long-term support.
Cognitive decline usually develops in people over the age of 65, but there are cases where individuals experience these conditions at a younger age. Common symptoms include forgetfulness, repeating questions, and difficulties in daily functioning that were not present in the past.
Services provided by the clinic include personalized guidance and support throughout the entire process, individual counseling, referrals to community-based treatments and support groups, coordination with the national insurance system if necessary, and assistance with various behavioral issues that may arise in the patient or their family members. Regular follow-up tests are conducted to monitor any changes in the patient's condition.
The clinic also offers medications that can slow down cognitive decline and improve the patient's quality of life and functioning. Some patients come to the clinic for occupational therapy sessions, while others benefit from social work services to clarify their rights. Each patient receives personalized counseling tailored to their specific needs. Success is measured by improvements in the patient's quality of life and a reduction in the burden on their family.
The treatment process usually involves three meetings with the clinic. The first and second meetings include a detailed clinical examination by a geriatrician, functional and cognitive evaluations by an occupational therapist, and a social assessment that looks into the patient's social support system. If needed, a neurological evaluation is also performed. After these two meetings, the professional team evaluates all the gathered information and data to formulate their recommendations.
In the third meeting, the patient and their family meet with the geriatrician again to receive the team's recommendations. These recommendations are also sent to the family doctor, and a treatment plan is determined accordingly.