Kemper House Worthington offers innovative cognitive assessments to residents and non-residents to raise awareness about brain health. Our dedicated team is lead by Integrative Health & Support Director Caitlynn Fortson, who uses Cognivue to detect signs of cognitive decline.
What is Cognivue?
This assessment is an FDA-approved computerized test that evaluates a person’s cognitive function. It’s a personalized self-assessment that uses visual cues to evaluate brain function and response time.
“Cognivue is really for the community, family and staff to raise awareness of cognitive health,” Fortson said. “We can give a mini mental health assessment to anyone.”
How Does it Work?
The assessment takes five to ten minutes and is completed on a laptop-style piece of equipment. The assessment machine adapts to the user by having them use a dial to respond to visual prompts that evaluate their sight and dexterity.
There are three parts to the cognitive evaluation:
- Memory
- Visio-spatial
- Executive brain function
“It goes through these assessments [and] it’s meant to push you to your limits,” Fortson said. She noted that plenty of past participants have felt exhausted after the evaluation because of the emphasis on mental concentration.
After you’ve completed the assessment, the computer will print your results automatically.
Who Should Take the Assessment?
Kemper House Worthington president/owner Greg Cini recommended that everyone over 40 should participate in regular cognitive assessments.
“We want to catch cognitive decline early on,” Cini said. “Regardless if it ends up being dementia or not…we want to catch that abnormality and direct people to the right types of professionals.”
There are no age restrictions for Cognivue, and it’s free to members of the community. Participants are also welcome to come back to Kemper House Worthington to retake the test if they wish.
The Advantages
Cognivue allows you to determine the state of your cognitive health so you can seek professional help if necessary. Taking the test can provide you with peace of mind or alert you to changes in your cognitive function.
Cini said that while some people may prefer not to know, most people are eager to understand their risk for dementia.
Fortson described Cognivue as another “tool for your toolbox.”
“I wouldn’t just sit at home if there were something going on with my heart,” she said. “The earlier you can detect any type of issue, the better you can manage against any further decline.”
Contact the team at Kemper House Worthington to schedule your Cognivue assessment.