Kang et al. found that people with Parkinson’s disease and self-reported cognitive decline could still be active participants in setting goals. This article focused on occupational therapy goal setting, but we can use this approach when creating cognitive-communication goals too. Here’s the technique (and we made you a printable form to use with clients, too!):

1. Discuss the overall purpose of therapy and give the client an idea of what to expect.

• "I'm here to help you with your everyday communication and cognition—things like talking to your grandkids, remembering to take your meds on time, setting up a schedule for feeding the cat..."

2. Encourage the client to reflect on the cognitive and/or communication changes they notice. What activities of daily living have been impacted?

• “I thought I heard you say earlier that remembering to feed your cat Cougar was an issue.”
• “I know you have a lot of medications to manage.”

3. Based on this conversation, what are some potential goal areas?

• “I think we can categorize your goals into connecting with family, managing your health, and household responsibilities. Does that seem about right?”

4. Guide the client to create three functional goals.

1. I will remember to feed Cougar and remember that I’ve done it.
2. I will organize my pills every week into a pill organizer.
3. I will figure out how to Zoom to video chat with my granddaughter.

5. Have the client rate each goal from 1-10 (1 being “not at all important” to 10 being “extremely important”) to help prioritize what to target first.

• “Ok, it seems like your pet and your medicine are top priorities. Let’s figure that out first and then figure out the video chat.”

Authors suggest that a patient-centered approach to goal setting will optimize therapy engagement. And it will probably make therapy more interesting for you, too. Here were some other functional goals participants came up with: 

• maintain attention during phone conversations
• plan and prepare a new recipe twice per month
• initiate quality communication with family friends or community members three times a week for two weeks
• complete rote household tasks with a schedule

Just remember, cognitive decline does not prevent the ability to set person-centered goals given the right support, these meaningful goals make for meaningful treatment.

Members can read more about treating cognitive-communication here and here.

Kang, E., Jethani, P., & Foster, E. (2022). Person-centered goal setting is feasible in people with Parkinson’s disease who have subjective cognitive decline. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2022.01.024