I have been going to Occupational Therapy once a week since late August and look forward to my time with them and the assorted homework I get each week. Now I.m booked through Dec and she says she doesn't think I need to continue I told her I disagreed she is indeed helping me as we have seem improvement in executive thinking, spatial relationships and short term memory. She says she feels like she is just a coach. I gave her some ideas of other areas or activities we could be doing and she said we will go to the end of the year and them decide if I will continue or not and if so maybe only once every two weeks or once a month.

We discussed medical necessity and the ability to show progression and we agree that the therapy could be justified, she just seems to feel that I have "outgrown" her .

Any ideas on how to convience her that I need to continue therapy????
 

This might be a question for a Care Consultant, because it concerns how to continue to receive medical benefits.  The doctor will have to recertify you to continue to receive benefits.  I was in a stroke rehab program but the doctor said I was allowed only three months of cognitive rehabilitation therapy.

I don't see "Ask the Care Consultant" on the new board.

Perhaps you need to telephone the Helpline number.

Iris L.

F. F. Wife: It may be a matter of insurance coverage. Your allotted time may be up. If you are willing to pay full price, I'm sure you can continue.

I have been to OT and also PT. Like you, I was given "homework" to do at home. You most likely have been given strategies that you can continue to work at. For PT, I pay a small maintenance fee and can use the equipment whenever and as often as I like. Patients working with a therapist are given preference when waiting for a machine.  For OT, I could rig up a lot of the activities at home.

Soon your appointment at Mayo is coming. How much longer?

My insurance covers therapy as long as I show progression and I am. My appointment with Mayo is mid Jan but,i just got the results from my neuro psych test done in the W of M as part of my core clinical group and my test results were improved across the board. They suggest I hold off on Mayo until my next Appt with my local Neuro Dr, The thought is that is you have AD you wouldnt improve on test scores????? So if we are dealing with depression and you are seeing things get a bit better hold off.

I'm not sure which way to go? Go to Mayo in Jan or put it off until April after my 1 year neuro psych testing???

OK F.F. Wife:

I think that the medical world has to rethink the statement that once one is diagnosed, there is no progress except downward. 

Yes, it is possible that you were mis-diagnosed and that what was really wrong was major depression. And that assumes that the depression is being treated and thus cognition is improving.

On the other hand, since my own diagnosis, I have become aware of and have faithfully followed the Best Practices. Because of this, my own neuro scores, like yours, have improved.  

This does not mean I no longer have AD. It does mean that because of the coping skills I have learned and the improvement in my over all well being [results of Best Practices], I can score better on the neuro tests.

This does not answer your question. I think you have to decide how much the time and expenses of going to Mayo mean to you. If I understand you, the doctors at Madison are saying: hey you are improving with what you are doing now. Lets see if this continues. We don't think you need to go to Mayo.