To Stay Ahead of Alzheimer’s, You Need a Care Partner for Mild Cognitive Impairment

Paula Glickman prides herself on being independent, despite being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2022. Every day, she takes yoga, then goes to her favorite coffee shop. She’s also a pro on the New York City subway, navigating her way home with relative ease. In 2025 she embarked on a more ambitious trip: traveling to Alaska by herself to visit a friend.

It was a big undertaking, but it was one that Paula’s sister and main care partner, Rena, strongly supported. “I want [Paula] to be as independent as possible,” says Rena. “And [unless something changes], I do not think we need to say Paula cannot travel by herself.”

This willingness to let Paula do the things she loves is just one of the many reasons she’s the ideal care partner for her sister. That’s not to say Rena isn’t needed for smaller tasks. Currently, she juggles her sister’s medical appointments and finances, while also keeping tabs on Paula’s whereabouts via her phone.

The right care partner won’t take away your independence. In fact, if you’ve recently received a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) — a condition that can develop into Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia — a care partner can help you preserve it longer than you otherwise could.

Setting Boundaries: Care Partner vs. Caregiver

• A caregiver tends to take a more hands-on role in managing your health, helping with daily tasks, such as meals, medications, and personal hygiene. They may also be responsible for scheduling medical and other health appointments, as well as advocating for your care.
• A care partner is more of a collaborator who supports you by noticing patterns about your behavior, asking questions to clarify your wishes, and being a sounding board to help you with shared decision-making. Meanwhile, you continue managing your daily life as you always have.

“With a care partner, there’s an emphasis on working together to find solutions that can support your goals and help you achieve them,” says Lolita Nidadavolu, MD, PhD, a specialist in geriatrics and assistant professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore. But you’re still in the driver’s seat.

Right now, a care partner likely provides the right amount of support for your needs. And by setting clear expectations early on, you can build a relationship that respects your dignity and independence while still giving you the safety and security you need.

Recruiting a Care Partner for MCI

An ideal time to bring a care partner into the picture is shortly after diagnosis. This is when you’re in the best position to organize your thoughts, clarify your preferences, and communicate how you want to be supported — both now and in the future.

Choosing the right person as your mild cognitive impairment care partner matters. “It should be someone you’re comfortable talking about your memory issues and being vulnerable with,” says Dr. Nidadavolu. Make sure it’s someone you trust, who is dependable and organized but also respectful of your boundaries.

Try to consider the long term, too, Nidadavolu advises. If the condition progresses, the person you choose as your care partner today may need to take on a caregiving role in the future, including doing tasks such as feeding and dressing you. “These aren’t necessarily comfortable conversations to have,” says Nidadavolu, “but you want to make sure that your care partner is someone you can really feel comfortable with in these scenarios.”

How to Collaborate With an MCI Care Partner

• Establish communication preferences. Decide how often to check in with each other and what kinds of updates feel helpful (or intrusive).
• Attend appointments together. Your care partner can ask questions, take notes, and help you remember the next steps.
• Use a shared calendar. Keep track of appointments, social events, and reminders in one place, whether in an app or on paper, so you’re both aligned.
• Create routine checklists. Use them for recurring tasks, such as weekly chores, and travel prep to make routines easier to manage independently.
• Tackle errands together. Whether it’s banking, grocery shopping, or picking up dry cleaning, doing these tasks together — even occasionally — can make them more manageable and enjoyable. Your care partner can also help you stay organized and engaged in your daily life.
• Find ways to automate tasks. Your care partner can help you set up automatic bill paying and medication refills to reduce the risk of missed payments or doses, while allowing you to maintain your independence.

Keep in mind that at the end of the day, the goal is to help support you after a mild cognitive impairment diagnosis. “There’s often a feeling of overwhelm when we talk about all of the things that can be done to help preserve and maintain your brain health and memory,” says Nidadavolu. “And compared to going through this process by yourself, having a true care partner can really set you up for success.”

Paula, for one, isn’t done traveling, even though she admits the condition is progressing, and Rena is there to support her. She still has hopes of helping Paula take a safari, along with her daughter, even if the logistics are difficult.

“If somebody loves me, they’re going to value something that is very important to me [if they can],” says Paula.

The Takeaway

• Enlist the help of a care partner, who can help you navigate life with mild cognitive impairment. The earlier you recruit someone, the earlier you can communicate your preferences to them.
• Choose someone you trust, who will also do their best to prioritize your wishes.
• Try attending appointments together, sharing calendars, and creating checklists for routine tasks. This can help you and your care partner work together without compromising your autonomy.