The Role of the Speech Language Pathologist in Dementia Care

This presentation will highlight themes within the dementia population and the roles and responsibilities of the Speech Pathologist as part of the interdisciplinary team. Speech Language Pathologists are often consulted on this population once signs and symptoms have become severe, resulting in missed opportunities to assist in slowing the progression of the disease earlier in the diagnosis.  Additionally, Speech Language Pathologists are often the first provider to see warning signs, which puts us in a unique position to refer patients appropriately.

Nicole Westphal, M.A. CCC-SLP, CDP is the Chief of the Speech Language Pathology section at the VA New York Harbor Healthcare System.  Her primary clinical responsibilities take place at the St. Alban's Community Living Center where she works with veterans who have a variety of disabilities across the geriatric population.  Her administrative responsibilities include long-term care management, as well as supervising staff within the medical centers.  Nicole has a special interest in ethics for the aging and cognitively impaired population and is a Certified Dementia Practitioner via the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners.

Florence Kalapnauth, M.A. CCC-SLP, CDP is the primary Speech Language Pathologist at the St. Alban's Community Living Center within the VA New York Harbor Healthcare System.  Florence's clinical work primarily focuses on cognitive linguistic evaluation and rehabilitation as well as on going maintenance and overall wellness for those diagnosed with a variety of disorders including Parkinson’s Disease, ALS, MS, dementia, and hospice care. Florence has a special interest in functional rehabilitation with a focus on quality of life maintenance for those patients in long term care.  She is also a Certified Dementia Practitioner via the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners.

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