Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease

Our Purpose

In 2016, Glens Falls Hospital received the designation as a Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease by the New York State Department of Health, and was awarded $2.1 million in state funding over a five year period. It is one of ten such centers in the entire state. The Center of Excellence at Glens Falls Hospital offers an interdisciplinary approach to diagnosing and managing Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias. Our team is comprised of specialists who are trained to assess patients affected by cognitive decline, and offers a care management component to support the patient and caregiver when a diagnosis is made. The mission of the Center of Excellence is to promote earlier diagnosis, support patients and caregivers, act as a conduit to community resources, and serve as a leader in education for providers, patients and families.

The New York State Department of Health named the Alzheimer’s Center at Glens Falls Hospital a Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease (CEAD), which serves Franklin, Clinton, Essex, Hamilton, Warren and Washington Counties.

Albany Medical Center is also a designated Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease covering 11 counties surrounding Albany, New York. For more information, go to the Albany Medical Center a Center for Excellence.

How to Make an Appointment

Appointments require a referral from a Primary Care Provider. Please request that you Primary Care Provider include the best person and contact number to call. After the referral is received, our office will reach out to schedule an appointment. To check the referral status, patients can call  Glens Falls Neurology at 518-926-2940.

Patients & Families – We consider it a privilege to be involved in your healthcare or the health of your loved one.  Please plan to have the following information from the patient’s primary care provider sent to Glens Falls Neurology at least 1 week prior to the appointment:

• Relevant radiology reports and images (electronically or on disc)
• Laboratory results
• Relevant office notes

Physicians – We are honored to collaborate with you.  Please plan to have the following information included in your referral to Glens Falls Neurology at least 1 week prior to the appointment:

• Relevant radiology reports and images (electronically or on disc)
• Laboratory results
• Relevant office notes
• Please include copies of any previous assessments such as the MOCA, MMSE, or others

How to Prepare for your First Visit to Glens Falls Neurology

Whether you visit the office in-person or, have an appointment using video conferencing or, telephone, the following will help to maximize your experience.

• Please plan to have a close friend, family member or, caregiver who knows you well accompany you to the visit.
• Please bring any current medications (including over-the-counter) you are taking to the appointment. Please also bring any vitamins, minerals or herbal supplements you might take.
• If you have hearing aids and/or corrective glasses, please have them with you.
• It can help to write down questions you have prior to the visit.

What to Expect

Patients are seen in the Glens Falls Neurology practice which is in the Pruyn Pavilion.

• During a New Patient Visit, a physical assessment and some information gathering will occur. Some of this information can be obtained through brief “pen & pencil” tests.  Some of this information can be obtained by talking and learning more about symptoms.
• You or your companion will be asked to complete a few questionnaires prior to the appointment.
• The initial appointment could take up to one to one and a half hours. Arriving 20 minutes prior to your appointment or being ready 20 minutes in advance of a video visit helps to finalize forms, address technical issues, and most importantly, maximize the time for your care.
• It is possible that some additional testing might be ordered. This may include MRI scans, labs, or cognitive testing.
• After all the information is gathered and tests have been performed, the Neurology specialists will meet with the patient and family to provide feedback on his or, her interpretation of the patient’s current symptoms. Findings will be shared in this visit.
• The team at Glens Falls Neurology is comprised of professionals who help provide patients and families with educational material and contact information about valuable resources in our community. Following your assessment, an appointment can be scheduled to learn more.

Brain Health Strategies

The Center strives to educate patients and families on brain health. Education centers on teaching the difference between fixed and modifiable risk.

Many things influence the health of our brains:
• Fixed factors are risks we cannot control, like genetics or family history.
• Modifiable risks are things we can control that can impact our brain’s functioning.
Over the course of a lifetime, these risks can add up. Eliminating these variables could potentially modify the prevalence of dementia by almost 40%.

Wherever you are in your health journey, we work to help you understand how to support your brain’s wellness with the following strategies.
• Exercise
• Sleep well
• Reduce stress
• Stop smoking
• Limit alcohol
• Stay connected with other people
• Learn new skills
• Eat well

We emphasize the importance of medical care and its importance on brain health, which monitors for:
• Diabetes
• Hearing loss
• High/low blood pressure
• Atrial fibrillation
• Depression/anxiety
• Sleep apnea