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Join the Community
Reach out through our website or by phone. We verify your coverage and connect you with the right therapist.
Cognitive change
Fears about memory, focus, and what comes next.
Worry about cognition is one of the most common reasons older adults reach out to Total Life. Therapy can help you separate normal aging from something worth talking to a neurologist about, and reduce the anxiety that's been building. Covered by Medicare.
Lily is Total Life's AI wellness coach, here for everyday support and answers. She is not a medical provider and does not replace therapy.
Medicare-covered
Covered by Medicare and most major plans
You're not alone
What cognitive worries can feel like.
- Walking into a room and forgetting why.
- Names of people you know slip more often.
- Reading takes longer than it used to.
- You worry about every forgotten thing.
- A family member said something about your memory.
- You're afraid to mention it to your doctor.
- You've started checking your memory in your head, all day.
- You worry more about cognition than about anything else.
These are common experiences, not a diagnostic checklist. A licensed therapist can help you understand what you're feeling without rushing to label it.
Why this is different after 65
Why cognitive worry deserves its own kind of support.
Some cognitive change is a normal part of aging. Some isn't. The hardest part for most older adults is not knowing which is which, and the anxiety around forgetting can be more disabling than the forgetting itself. Therapy is the space to slow down the worry, build cognitive routines, plan ahead if needed, and have the conversations with family that have been waiting. It is not a substitute for neurological evaluation, but it is a meaningful part of comprehensive care.
1 in 9
Adults 65+ live with Alzheimer's
Source: Alzheimer's Association, 2024
1 in 5
Older adults have mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which is not dementia
Source: National Institute on Aging
Most
Cognitive worries in older adults turn out to be normal aging plus anxiety
Source: American Geriatrics Society
How therapy helps
How therapy supports you with cognitive change.
Reduce anxiety about forgetting
Most older adults who reach out to us about memory don't have dementia. They have anxiety about it. Therapy can shrink the worry, which often improves recall.
Build cognitive routines and strategies
Calendars, notebooks, walking routes, naming-out-loud techniques. Your therapist can help you build the small habits that make daily life easier.
Family conversations and care planning
If cognitive change is happening, therapy is a place to think about what to share, when, and with whom. Many members involve their adult children when they're ready.
How It Works
Getting started is simple.
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Find Your Match
After a short conversation about your needs, we recommend an experienced counselor and schedule your first session.
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Start Your Journey
On the scheduled date, your therapist reaches out by phone or video, and you begin working through what matters to you.
Why Total Life
Total Life vs. in-person therapy
| Total Life | In-person | |
|---|---|---|
| Getting started | Matched with a therapist within 24 hours | Often weeks on a waitlist |
| Where you meet | From home, by phone or video | Drive to an office |
| Specialization | Therapists who focus on adults 65+ | General practice, varies |
| Medicare | Covered by Medicare; most members pay $0 | May be out of network |
| Scheduling | Flexible times that fit your week | Limited office hours |
| Comfort | Talk from your own home | An unfamiliar waiting room |
All 50
States served
200+
Licensed providers
6+
Insurances accepted, plus Medicare
Meet Our Providers
Licensed therapists who specialize in older adults.
TA
Dr. Tanya Alonso
Licensed Psychologist
Licensed in your state, with a master's-level education or higher and specialized training in the mental health of older adults.
IR
Dr. Ian Rivera
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Licensed in your state, with a master's-level education or higher and specialized training in the mental health of older adults.
PV
Dr. Preeti Vidwans
Licensed Psychologist
Licensed in your state, with a master's-level education or higher and specialized training in the mental health of older adults.
Why Our Clients Choose Total Life
Total Life has served over 10,000 adults and led over 100,000 sessions.
92% of members stay with their assigned therapist.
Dr. Tim Calvin has been a God Send. He is a kind, gentle and humorous man.
Read Reynold’s full storyShow less
Dear Total Life. Thank you for your wonderful service of therapy for the elderly. I had been searching for some time for therapy services for the elderly. I kept running into roadblocks until I ran across Total Life on the internet.
I had been an MSW/LCSW for 54 years and a BSW for 11 years before that. Yes, I will be 87 a few days from now. I just fully retired on March 31, 2026. I found myself drifting in the middle of Lake Michigan for some months until I found Total Life and realized there was a group of therapists reaching out to Medicare patients.
I was really fortunate I had not found someone before Total Life. I have been working on Erikson’s last stage of life and addressing the new life situations that “old age” has brought knocking. I find this a more pleasant experience compared to earlier therapy addressing the traumas and problems of growing up, plus the stress of relationships, children, addiction, financial, education and work.
A giant “THUMBS UP” for Total Life and Tim (Dr. Calvin).
Reynold Wolter
Total Life member · Working with Dr. Tim Calvin · MSW/LCSW (retired, 54 years) · Age 87
What Members Experience
Progress, session by session.
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After three sessions
After three sessions a majority of clients have hope that their situation is improving.
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After six sessions
After six sessions a majority of clients have reflected that actual change occurred.
Take the first step. We'll do the rest.
Covered by Medicare. Most members are matched with a therapist within 24 hours.
Common questions
Questions older adults ask about cognitive change.
I'm worried about my memory. Is therapy the right place to start?+
It's one of the right places to start. A therapist can help you understand what you're noticing, reduce the anxiety, and decide together whether a neurological workup with your primary care doctor or a neurologist is the right next step.
How do I know if it's normal aging or something more?+
Some forgetfulness is part of aging. The pattern matters more than the moments. A therapist can help you sort through what you've been noticing, and your primary care doctor can order cognitive screening if it's warranted.
Can therapy slow cognitive decline?+
Therapy isn't a treatment for dementia, but it can reduce the depression, anxiety, and isolation that often accompany cognitive change, all of which are independent risk factors for further decline. Comprehensive care matters.
Should I see a neurologist or a therapist first?+
It depends on what you're noticing. For severe or rapidly changing symptoms, start with your primary care doctor, who can refer you to a neurologist. For ongoing worry and the emotional weight of cognitive concerns, start with a therapist. Often both are part of the path.
My family says I'm fine, but I'm not sure. Whose perspective matters?+
Both. Your subjective experience is the most important signal, and so is what people close to you are noticing. A therapist can help you sort through both, without taking sides.
Can people with mild cognitive impairment benefit from therapy?+
Yes. Therapy is recommended as part of comprehensive care for older adults with mild cognitive impairment. It can reduce the anxiety, improve coping, and help with planning conversations.
Will sessions still help if I forget what we talked about?+
Yes. Memory isn't a requirement for therapy. The relationship and the patterns we work on don't depend on remembering every session. Many members say they feel better just having the regular conversation.
Should my spouse or adult children be part of therapy?+
Sometimes. Some members do family sessions, some keep therapy private, some do both. You decide what's right for you, and your therapist will follow your lead.
Is therapy for cognitive concerns covered by Medicare?+
Yes. Medicare covers behavioral health sessions with a licensed clinician as a Part B benefit. You don't need a dementia diagnosis to start. Original Medicare covers 80%, and most members with supplemental insurance pay $0. Total Life is a Medicare provider.
Total Life is a Medicare provider. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or part of Medicare or any government agency.