69 Dementia Questions to Ask Clients in Therapy Sessions

Dementia is believed to affect half of older adults over the age of 85. Dementia is a group of mental health conditions that affect a person’s thinking, memory, reasoning, behaviors, mood, and personality. There is a clear cognitive decline with dementia that often requires additional care and support to maintain safety and overall health. Keep reading to learn 69 of the best dementia questions to ask clients in therapy sessions.

While Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, it is not the only cause. Other causes include vascular dementia, dementia with Lewey bodies, frontotemporal dementia, dementia due to Parkinson’s disease, and side effects from particular medications.

Individuals who exhibit early signs of dementia may experience:

• Forgetting recently learned information
• Repeating answered questions in a short period of time
• Misplacing commonly used items, or leaving them in abnormal places
• Struggling to think of the right words
• Changes in interests, behaviors, and mood
• Forgetting the season, month, or year
• Daily tasks become challenging
• Increase anxiety, agitation, confusion, and suspiciousness
• Needing help with hygiene and other daily living skills
• Experiencing hallucinations

Getting Ready for Your First Dementia Therapy Session with a New Client

Before you meet with a new client, we encourage you to take time reviewing paperwork that you already have. This can include previous treatment records, medical tests, and evaluations. You may receive paperwork indicating a previous diagnosis and/or treatment received.

If you’re conducting an initial assessment for someone showing early signs of dementia and those who have not received a formal diagnosis, you may be responsible for gathering information needed to reach a clinical diagnosis. Diagnosing can include a variety of professionals as well as assessment measures. This could include a comprehensive mental health assessment, laboratory tests to rule out other conditions, and image testing such as a CT or a FDG-PET scan.

If you work in a healthcare facility providing mental health services for those who are already known to have dementia, you may find it helpful to prepare for your session. In addition to reviewing available documents, you can have worksheets accessible to enhance your sessions. Worksheets, like those available with TherapyByPro, can be used to reinforce material discussed in session, and provide your client with a reminder of their session. Examples of worksheets that may be helpful include:

• Dementia Worksheet Bundle
• Cognitive Exercise-Face and Name Matching
• Alzheimer’s/Dementia Symptoms Tracker  Worksheet
• Cognitive Exercise-Word Scramble for Dementia
• Cognitive Exercise-Opposite Words for Dementia 

Lastly, we encourage you to be mindful of your own needs. Take a moment to have a snack, hydrate, or stretch. Some find it helpful to engage briefly in meditation or relaxation practices between sessions. If you’re experiencing psychological distress, seek supervision or professional support for your difficulties

What Dementia Questions Should I Ask In Sessions?

There are a number of questions about dementia that you can incorporate into your first session to understand your client’s experiences and symptoms. Continue reading for a brief introduction into questions to test dementia that you can customize to your client:

1. Can you tell me about what brought you in today?
2. What changes have you noticed in your day-to-day life?
3. When did you begin to notice these symptoms?
4. What changes have those around you noticed in your day-to-day life?
5. How does it make you feel when others talk about the changes they have observed in your mood, personality, or behaviors?
6. Would you say that you’ve been forgetful lately?
7. How often do you misplace your wallet, keys, phone, or the remote?
8. Has there been any recent events or gatherings that you forgot to attend?
9. Can you tell me what season we’re in?
10. How would you describe your mental health history?
11. Was there a time that you struggled with your mental health?
12. Do you have a history of engaging in mental health treatment, or taking medications to decrease psychological distress?
13. Can you tell me about your current substance use?
14. What was your substance use like in the past?
15. Was there a time when you felt out of control when using drugs or drinking alcohol?
16. How would you describe your medical health?
17. Have you taken any medications for a prolonged period of time?
18. Do you have a history of serious medical concerns?
19. Have any of the medications you’ve taken had warnings for cognitive changes?
20. Can you tell me when you began to experience health difficulties?
21. Can you tell me what a typical day looks like for you?
22. How would you describe your independence today?
23. Can you think of any tasks that are easier with the support of others?
24. Are there any tasks that you need support for?
25. Have you had any bills lately that you forgot to pay?
26. Can you tell me about your family history regarding mental health concerns?
27. Did any family members struggle with dementia?
28. What changes did you notice in their behaviors that indicated dementia?
29. Can you tell me about your tobacco use?
30. What was your exercise routine like over the years?
31. Can you tell me about any games or hobbies that you have to keep your mind engaged?
32. Do you enjoy puzzles like crosswords or word searches?
33. Can you tell me about your friends?
34. Can you see your friends often?
35. How would you describe your relationship with your family?
36. How often do you see your friends?
37. Can you tell me about your diet?
38. Do you have a history of heart attacks, strokes, or kidney failure?
39. Has anyone talked to you about changes in your personality?
40. Have you noticed any changes to your personality?
41. Have you experienced any mood changes that are out of the norm for you?
42. Do you feel as though you’re irritable as of late?
43. Can you tell me about your experiences with anger lately?
44. Have you been suspicious of others or events lately?
45. Can you tell me about any behavioral changes you’ve noticed recently?
46. Do you feel as though you’re able to remember daily tasks like personal hygiene and eating?
47. Are there any tasks that you receive assistance for?
48. Have you engaged in any behaviors or activities lately that were out of character for you?
49. Have you noticed any difficulties remembering other names, or the names of places?
50. Have you found yourself struggling to find the right words to communicate your thoughts?
51. How do you feel when you’re unable to get your point across to others?
52. Tell me about your organization skills recently, has there been any changes from before?
53. Do you find yourself feeling confused often?
54. Would you be open to writing things down to use as a reference or reminder?
55. Have you found it challenging to remember your phone number or home address?
56. Can you tell me about your sleep patterns?
57. Have you noticed any significant changes in your sleep behaviors?
58. Have you struggled with getting lost in familiar places?
59. How would you describe your physical coordination?
60. Do you feel as though you have been clumsier or unbalanced as of late?
61. Have you experienced any illnesses or infections lately?
62. Have you taken medications to help with your cognitive challenges?
63. What is your understanding of dementia?
64. What would be helpful for us to talk about today?
65. What would be a useful skill for us to focus on?
66. How do you feel about living with dementia?
67. Can you tell me how your dementia diagnosis has impacted you?
68. Are there any symptoms that concern or worry you?
69. Are there any resources that could make things easier for you if you had them?

Final Thoughts On Asking the Right Dementia Questions in Sessions

We’re grateful for your interest in our article about questions to ask with clients who are showing signs of dementia. Mental health treatment can be a great resource for those who are living with dementia. Therapy sessions can focus on cognitive stimulation to maintain memory, reasoning skills, and slow down cognitive decline. Counseling can promote overall emotional well-being by addressing depression, anxiety, and other mental health symptoms.

Occupational therapy can be incorporated into a comprehensive treatment plan to maintain independence, allowing clients to feel as though they have maintained some level of autonomy. With professional support and guidance, those living with dementia can maintain their symptoms and slow down its progression. Treatment often includes working with a multidisciplinary team, including medical doctors, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, and mental health therapists.

If you would like to learn more about dementia test questions, and how to support clients exhibiting dementia signs, we encourage you to explore available educational and training opportunities within your niche. Supervision can be a valuable place to brainstorm ways to build your skill set to include treatment for dementia.  

Resources:

• Dementia: What it is, causes, symptoms, treatment & typeswhat it is, causes, symptoms, treatment & types. Cleveland Clinic. (2025, February 14). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9170-dementia