When you or someone you love is having cognitive difficulties, it impacts the entire family. As part of your treatment at the Ray Dolby Brain Health Center, the Care Navigation Team is available to you and your family for education, resources and support throughout your treatment.

The Care Navigation Team meets with you and your loved one at the time of your visit. Depending on your needs, we refer you to any of the many services we offer, such as social work services, case management, on-site Alzheimer’s Association assistance and individual, family and group psychotherapy.

During the first visit, team staff provide an explanation of services and conduct a brief assessment. Within the following few weeks, staff contacts you and your family to continue the assessment process and to address any barriers to medical provider recommendations. A care plan is then initiated that continually supports you in navigating the healthcare system.

Case Management

A member of the Care Navigation Team will be available to support you in following your physician’s recommendations. You and your loved ones will have direct and continued access whenever you need additional resources, education or emotional support. Resources can include community programs, adult day programs, exercise groups, and other therapeutic programs, as well as referrals for financial and legal planning services.

Patient Advocacy

The Care Navigation Team can support you in advocating with insurance companies and other health-related vendors, helping to ensure you or your loved one receives appropriate care. We provide advocacy and education to reduce stigma.

Emotional Support

Adjusting to cognitive changes can cause feelings of anxiety and stress. The changes can make you feel apprehensive and you find yourself isolating, even from people and activities you enjoyed before. Witnessing a loved one experiencing cognitive difficulties can also be very painful. Part of the comprehensive services provided at the Ray Dolby Brain Health Center is emotional support for patients and their loved ones. This can take place over the phone, in person, one on one, or with an entire family.

Support Groups

The Ray Dolby Brain Health Center also offers monthly confidential support groups for spouse-caregivers and adult children which are facilitated by the center’s psychotherapists. These groups are exclusively offered to our patients’ families to help reduce social isolation, and are an invaluable resource of ongoing support.

Family Care Specialist

Rachel Main, MA, is available for education and coordination of services related to the Alzheimer’s Association’s programs. She provides the complete curriculum of classes offered by the Alzheimer’s Association and support groups for the general public.