Aging & Dementia Service

Aging can bring about many changes, and we understand the challenges that come with these transitions. Whether you're noticing typical age-related changes or wondering if what you're experiencing goes beyond "normal aging," we’re here to help. At Dr. Melanie Cochrane & Associates (MCA), we provide compassionate, personalized support for older adults and their families, helping you navigate these changes with confidence.

We are here to support you in breaking the myths around aging. You are not "too old" and it is not "too late"—it’s time to regain control and live your most meaningful life.

At MCA, we believe that knowledge is key. This means understanding how you are doing at your current stage of life. For some individuals, this may involve uncovering strengths as well as areas of weakness. It may include learning evidence-based skills and strategies to help you cope with and compensate for normal age-related changes in the body and mind. For others, you may have more significant concerns and wonder, “Are the changes I’m experiencing more than what would be expected for ‘normal aging’?” We are here to help with that as well.

Common Types of Questions We Address:

• Is there impairment or is this "normal aging"?
• If there is impairment, what's causing it?
• Am I declining?
• What is the diagnosis, and what can I expect in the future?
• What can I do to take care of my brain health?
• My family is concerned about me, and I’m not sure how to talk to them about it. What should I do?

Family/Caregiver Resources:

•UCSF Memory and Aging Clinic –http://memory.ucsf.edu 

•Rotman-Baycrest Centre (Toronto) –http://www.baycrest.org/care/ 

•Association for Frontotemporal Dementias –http://www.theaftd.org/ 

•Alzheimer’s Society of Canada –http://www.alzheimer.ca

We Can Help!

At MCA, we have a team of clinical psychologists and neuropsychologists who specialize in working with older adults. This expertise is crucial to fully understand your brain health and any changes that may be occurring in your thinking skills. 

We offer thorough neuropsychological assessments to clarify potential diagnoses and provide specific recommendations. This type of assessment is tailored to you and your specific circumstances and is not a one size fits all. 

This can be incredibly helpful in gaining more control over your life and knowing what to do to best support yourself now. Results can also be used to help our families and loved ones understand what is going on and how to help. Our goal is to help promote independence, agency, and overall well-being in your later years.

We also provide therapy support and cognitive rehabilitation to help you actually learn skills and strategies to help you cope with the changes that can occur at this stage of life.