TBH’s Dr. Green recently joined Abbie Ritchie of Senior Living Foresight’s Tech Tuesday to talk about how TBH is adapting our programs for tech delivery and many other brain buzzing topics.

Click to watch.

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Early Memory Loss: Why Cognitive Wellness Training Can Help

A colleague recently shared their concern over Miss K., a vibrant woman who seemed to experience a real dip in her memory over the past few months. “She is forgetting details she ordinarily would get,” she said, “and I can tell that it’s keeping her from engaging and getting together with her pals.”

As we age, our risk for changes in memory ability increases significantly, especially for those over age 85. While such changes are not inevitable, and do not necessarily progress, they can be frustrating and even frightening for folks experiencing them. As professionals and caregivers, our desire to find solutions to meet the changing needs of our community members in a way that can help to stave off further decline can be challenging. This is particularly true when we consider the need to do so on a scalable basis.

The good news is research shows there are a number of ways we can efficiently and effectively support those with mild cognitive loss through cognitive wellness training in a group setting. Options for helping everyone live as fully and meaningfully as possible include:

Skills Training. Individuals with early memory changes can benefit from cognitive training targeting skills such as attention, short-term memory, processing speed and executive functions. In one recent study, 145 individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) significantly improved on measures of attention and memory after several group cognitive skills training sessions. In-person small group programs are preferable for this population, who can benefit tremendously from the additional intellectual stimulation of working together with peers, rather than alone on a computer or smartphone.

Lifestyle Intervention Training. Those with mild cognitive loss can respond well to modifications of lifestyle factors. Making positive changes in areas such as sleep, medications, and emotional health can significantly impact and support cognition, including attention and memory. Cognitive wellness programs combined with personal coaching can empower residents to take better care of their brain health, and encourage them to engage in wellness offerings that target their specific health concerns. Consider a person-centric approach as a way to make sure individuals are motivated and provided the tools to achieve their wellness goals on their own as well as with support.

Social Support. One of the best interventions for early stage cognitive loss is continued or improved socialization. Social engagement is a known buffer for emotional distress, isolation and loneliness. Less recognized, however, is the critical impact socializing has on cognitive skills. Even informal conversations in the lobby provide a meaningful opportunity to “work out” a myriad of thinking skills including attention, verbal functions, memory, and executive control. It is no wonder that many frail older adults experienced a dip in cognitive abilities during the recent months of lockdown. While this may be due to multiple factors, certainly the loss of contact and socialization played a role in the widespread changes seen.

While cognitive wellness interventions may not arrest the progression of cognitive decline, in many cases early stage interventions can positively impact an individual’s experience, engagement and quality of life in ways that can be quite meaningful. Positive group experiences, moreover, have been shown to bolster mental well-being as well as contribute to overall skills learning. If serving those with transitional cognitive loss is a priority in your community, I suggest looking for ways to integrate these interventions to provide folks with every opportunity to thrive and live well.

President and founder of Total Brain Health, Cynthia R. Green, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, author and nationally recognized expert on memory fitness and brain health.

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Do We Have a Moral Obligation to Provide Brain Wellness Training?

 Following an extensive review of the data, the Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention and Care challenged the medical community and society with the following conclusion:

“…(G)iving people information about how to prevent or treat dementia is an essential first step but is not enough. There is a responsibility, not just as professionals but as a society, to implement this evidence into interventions that are widely and effectively used… Interventions have to be accessible, sustainable, and, if possible, enjoyable or they will be unused.”

As a longstanding expert in brain health, I believe we have a moral obligation to empower everyone to take charge of their cognitive wellness. In the history of healthcare there are turning points when we shift from suggestion to prescription – think, for example, about vaccinations or heart health promotion. A myriad of factors indicate that we have reached such a point, and that it is time to take a more proactive approach to brain health. The Lancet Commission statement is a very welcome invitation to move brain health to the forefront of our health promotion initiatives, for many reasons, among them:

The Science is There. Over the past three decades, we have experienced rapid-fire growth in our scientific knowledge about dementia prevention. We have evidence from large, well-designed observational and interventional studies that lifestyle behaviors can significantly impact our dementia risk. As the Lancet Commission found, these behaviors range from ones that must be implemented on both a societal level, such as childhood education and social isolation in older age, to personal behavior, such as physical activity and managing hearing loss. The time is ripe for interventions that engage us in brain healthy lifestyles and promote the full range of what keeps our minds sharp and reduces our risk for serious memory loss.

In addition, we are beginning to see more evidence that specific lifestyle interventions, such as physical exercise and meditation, may slow decline in those diagnosed with memory disorders. Leaders in the field, such as Dr. Ronald Petersen, have in fact recently suggested physical activity be prescribed to those with early memory loss.

Recent small studies even suggest that targeted training may even improve cognitive performance in individuals with early memory loss. While the evidence may be early, the potential benefits for most of these interventions, which are often wellness-based and economical, seem to outweigh any inherent risk.

Dementia is a Crisis We Can’t Ignore. Dementia is a worldwide societal crisis. On a global basis, over 45 million people carry a diagnosis of dementia, and the World Health Organization has declared dementia a public health priority. However, the impact is not only medical: The 2015 World Alzheimer’s Report concluded that the worldwide economic drag of the disease is so high that if dementia care were a country, it would be the 18th largest economy in the world. With so many at risk, we can no longer afford to be passive or hesitant in our approach to reducing risk or providing better care to those affected by memory loss.

In addition, dementia is a personal crisis for far too many. It is a devastating disease, not only for the affected individual but for their family, friends and community. Giving relief in any degree that may slow decline, support a better quality of life and help all affected is a morally compelling reason to re-envision and retool what we do in brain wellness across the cognitive continuum.

We Have the Tools to do Better. It is time for the healthcare field to rethink what we do to promote better brain health. As the Lancet Commission researchers note, “giving people information simply is no longer enough.” We must move beyond white papers to meaningful, robust programs that empower people to take better care of their brains. We have the tools to develop innovative, out-of-the-box methods that provide the means to lower risk, improve performance, and live better in the face of disease. Methodologies such as gamification, social-based brain training and experiential learning all offer new and exciting ways to fully engage in all the science shows we need to do to promote cognitive fitness. In memory care, we should continue to explore new pathways towards equal opportunity for cognitive engagement and meaningful, vibrant connections across the cognitive continuum, breaking down the barriers modeled on medical constructs, and taking advantage of technological advances to manage concerns around safety and care. Finally, whatever else, we need to make brain health fun – not childish, not over-simplified, but engaging, challenging, compelling and exciting. 

We are at the point in the history of brain health where we have the evidence and need, both professionally and as a society, to empower everyone to take better care of our brains. The moral burden is on us to act – the only question is how we will rise to the challenge.

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3 Unexpected Benefits of your Brain Health Investment: What to Know

For many in the active aging space, August is a time of budgets and decision making. While dollars are tight, the pandemic’s impact has proven that the real value of wellness engagement to resident health, connection, and satisfaction is, in fact, priceless.

As you consider how to stretch your allocation for maximum impact, you should know that there are multiple, unexpected ways investing in brain health is a wise move for your wellness impact – and your bottom line.

There really are countless ways making cognitive fitness a priority for your wellness spend brings surprising benefits, but let’s start with my top 3:

1. Brain training benefits your wellness engagement.

Your goal is to deliver wellness options residents will use and love. Look no further than brain fitness, which is a high wellness priority for everyone living in your community. A 2017 survey found that a whopping 72% of the 3,000+ adults say losing their memory is their top worry about aging. Residents not only have identified that they want your help keeping their cognition vital – they vote with their attendance when you include cognitive fitness training on the calendar.

Including cognitive wellness also helps you promote your overall health platform. Current science confirms the strong tie between body, mind, and spirit interventions and sharp thinking, dementia prevention, and living well with memory loss. Going beyond busy packets to well-designed brain health training can raise everyone’s awareness and participation in your fitness, creative, and community offerings.

2. Brain training benefits resident’s autonomy and purpose.

Daily thinking and memory are not the only targets of cognitive wellness – so are the skills needed for independence and vitality. After the pandemic, residents have a renewed commitment to taking care of
their brain health. Providing training options that help them meet those goals benefits their confidence, sense of achievement, and autonomy to direct their own wellness decisions. Opportunities for residents to drive their brain health engagement make it much more likely they will find their time in your program meaningful, fulfilling, and purposeful. Adding options such as peer training and program leadership can boost resident autonomy and purpose even more.

3. Brain training benefits your business plan.

Investing in brain training that truly engages your residents pays off for your bottom line as well. High value, meaningful brain training is a differentiator that can set your community apart for prospective community members and their families. While brain teasers may entertain, they do not reflect the serious commitment to cutting edge brain wellness the current marketplace demands. In addition, quality cognitive training contributes to having happy, satisfied residents who feel more deeply connected to each other and to a community that goes beyond the mundane to provide cutting-edge resources that help them thrive. That is, after all, why they moved to your community in the first place — and is most likely what will get them to stay.

Research shows that lifestyle wellness is a main reason folks are drawn to communal living. Further, we know that active wellness participants enjoy a higher quality of life, are more satisfied with living in your community, and stay healthier and independent for about 2 years longer, reducing their cost of care. As a highly sought-after aspect of wellness that brings a bounty of benefits, brain fitness is just a smart investment.

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TBH Programs Improve Brain Fitness: Results of the ACAR Brain Health Intervention Study

Adults 65+ often experience changes in cognition, including memory. Longstanding evidence shows interventions such as lifestyle changes and memory training can improve thinking and cognitive vitality. However, most research has focused on longitudinal outcomes or laboratory-based interventions. There have been few naturalistic studies looking at the impact of cognitive wellness training in active aging communities. In addition, there is a lack of evidence for the value of sustainable, scalable interventions delivered in-place by existing staff to promote healthy cognition and wellbeing in this population.

Data is now available to fill that gap. The recently concluded ACAR Brain Health Intervention Study shows the robust, significant benefits of brain health training for adults in congregant living. The results demonstrate strong support for small group training designed to empower residents to be brain healthy, and to help them make meaningful changes for sharper thinking and better memory.

The ACAR Brain Health Intervention Study stemmed from a collaborative research partnership between Acts Retirement-Life Communities, researchers at the Alabama Research Institute on Aging, and Total Brain Health. Spearheaded by primary investigator Dr. Ian McDonough, associate professor of psychology at the University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa, the 2-year investigation enrolled residents from 23 Acts Retirement-Life Communities. All participants were 65+, resided in independent living, and without a previous diagnosis of memory disorder.

The study used Total Brain Health’s small group cognitive wellness programs as the primary training intervention. Designed especially for aging adults, TBH’s programs reflect a methodology grounded in wellness-based lifestyle interventions across body, mind, and spirit; Social-Based Brain Training that uses the power of social engagement for cognitive benefit; and experiential or “hands on” training.

549 Acts residents participated and were randomly assigned to either 1 of 3 active interventions groups or a waitlist control group:

TBH BRAIN WORKOUT Program Group. Led by Acts staff, participants learned about behaviors promoting cognitive (how to focus attention), physical (how to eat healthy), and socio-emotional (how to stay socially engaged) wellbeing.

TBH MEMORY Program Group. Led by Acts staff, participants learned how memory works, how wellbeing impacts memory, and how to use several practical memory strategies to enhance recall for names, conversations, and more.

The Book Club Group. Led by a peer facilitator, participants discussed brain health knowledge from a book on brain health each week.

Waitlist Control Group. Did not participate in any brain training during the study.

The 3 active groups met for 1-hour weekly for 8 sessions over a 2-month period. Participants completed a packet of self-report measures to assess wellbeing and brain knowledge before training began, immediately at the conclusion of the training classes, and 2 months later.

Analyses of the data was overseen by Dr. McDonough. The results showed that participants in the active intervention groups benefited significantly from the programs when compared to those in the waitlist control group. Furthermore, several of the improvements remained evident at the 2-month follow-up. Specifically, those in the intervention groups were:

Empowered with greater knowledge about how they can take care of their brains

Had greater confidence in their memory and brain fitness

Used more memory strategies than they had before the training

In addition, at the end of the 8-week training participants in both the TBH BRAIN WORKOUT Program and Book Club groups were significantly more likely than those in the control group to:

Make healthier lifestyle choices to support brain health

The results of the ACAR Brain Health Intervention Study offer a meaningful contribution to what we know about the benefit of brain wellness training in active aging settings. First, these outcomes show that such interventions can make a real difference for older adults, giving them the capacity to make brain healthier lifestyle choices, feel more secure in their ability to care for their cognition, and use techniques to improve their memory.

In addition, while independent living communities can play a key role in cognitive wellness research, there have been few meaningful partnerships between academics, communities, and cognitive program providers. The Acts Retirement-Life Communities Center for Applied Research (ACAR) is a forward-thinking model of how organizations can help foster collaborations to contribute knowledge about the benefits of communal settings for older adults. Acts staff were a key part of the research process, giving them the opportunity to gain meaningful professional experience. They were supported by the ACAR team as well as Acts corporate staff as they helped guide the investigation in their communities.

Perhaps most importantly, these findings clearly show that staff-led cognitive wellness training is clearly valuable and sustainable when delivered in ways that are affordable and scalable. As the Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention and Care (2017) charged, “(G)iving people information about how to prevent or treat dementia is an essential first step but is not enough. There is a responsibility, not just as professionals but as a society, to implement this evidence into interventions that are widely and effectively used … . Interventions have to be accessible, sustainable, and, if possible, enjoyable or they will be unused.” The ACAR Brain Health Intervention Study demonstrates that such interventions exist and can be robustly delivered in ways that help older adults thrive.

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Total Brain Health Hosts 200+ for “It’s Time to Brain Play!” – A Brain Awareness Week Event

This past Tuesday, over 200 communities registered from across the US and Canada joined Dr. Green and some special guests for our 2nd annual Brain Awareness Week livestream event. The interactive webinar, streamed over Zoom and through TBH partner Touchtown’s new Touchtown Live! service, covered the many ways play is such a boost for our brain.

“We are thrilled that so many communities joined us this year to learn more about that wonderful organ, our brain. We are proud to be a longstanding partner of the Dana Foundation’s Brain Awareness Week initiative, and play our part in helping everyone learn more about what they can do to boost their brain fitness each and every day,” says Dr. Green.

Dr. Green was joined by Acts Retirement-Life Communities residents Sarah Kohler, Ruth Withee, and Ken Justice, who helped demonstrate several of the different ways we can all engage in play to strengthen our thinking skills, creative engagement, and social connection. In thanks for their participation, the panelists will receive complimentary access to TBH’s latest self-paced memory improvement training series, the TBH Build My Memory! Program.

To view a recording of the event, click here. To receive a copy of the event to share with your community, email info@totalbrainhealth.com.

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Why Cross Training Is So Good for Our Brains – And How To Do It

Cross training is a well-accepted and popular method in physical fitness. Did you know the benefits of a cross training approach apply to brain training as well?

There is no question that any effective brain wellness program must include cross training. In fact, our TBH Blueprint is uniquely based on the very principles of a cross training approach.

Why cross train our brains? Because the state of the science brain health research demonstrates that doing so helps us fully reap the benefits of cognitive fitness interventions. When we talk about being brain healthy, we are really talking about two different but equally desirable outcomes. First, we are looking to maintain everyday intellectual function, such as attention, speed of thinking, multi-tasking, and of course memory. Second, we seek ways to reduce our risk for serious memory loss and maintain cognitive vitality as we age. When we look at the science behind what keeps our minds sharp and our brains healthy, it is clear we need to engage in many different activities across wellbeing to work towards both these goals. Since cross training is best defined as “training across disciplines,” is a very apt way of describing exactly what we need to do.

What should we look to cross train in our brain fitness programs? Here are some suggestions you can use in your practice with clients, and even for yourselves!

Train Across Body, Mind and Spirit

A brain fitness program should first start with a good look at what brain healthy behaviors we can promote across wellness that support cognitive fitness.  Is more aerobic activity called for? Greater opportunities to learn how to manage stress? While we might not initially conceive of such changes as “brain training” they are critical to better brain performance and vitality. Road maps like our TBH Blueprint are a good way to understand what it takes to develop and deliver a best practices brain fitness program based on the current science.

Train Across Skills, Stretch, and Strategy

Cross training the brain also requires workouts that tap the distinctly different ways we should engage intellectually. We refer to these as the three “S”s of Brain Health: Skills, Stretch, and Strategies. First, research indicates that targeted training can help us better maintain the intellectual skills we need to function well daily that are challenged by aging and lifestyle. Second, “stretching” our brains with intellectually stimulating activities has been linked to reduced dementia risk over our lifetimes, suggesting that they may have a protective effect. Finally, we need to effectively use strategies to help us learn and retain information such as names (everyone’s top memory complaint!), conversations and more. Since most interventions do not fully address all of these areas, we must cross train across these “S”s with different workouts for best outcomes.

Train Across Cognitive Skills

Speaking of those intellectual skills, the research shows that we must train across them as well. Findings from the ACTIVE study as well as other research demonstrate again and again that we can improve our cognitive skills through training. However, the improvements seen are specific to the skill we train. Any solid cognitive training program must provide a balanced training across all those skills — from attention to memory to problem solving —  in order for it to truly meet these objectives.

What’s the bottom line? When it comes to better brain health, cross training is everything. It is a core principle of our Total Brain Health methodology, and is the best way for us to put the full weight of the science into actionable steps to promote better brain fitness for those we serve and for ourselves.

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Here’s To A Year Filled With Brain Play! 3 Ways Letting Our Brains Play Is Just What 2022 Ordered

The playwright George Bernard Shaw once said,  “we don’t stop playing because we grow old,  we grow old because we stop playing.” While  

Shaw might not have known it at the time, current research shows that when it comes to brain training, he was right.  What better time to bring more play to our programs than the fresh start of a new year?  

Here are 3 reasons why adding play to your brain training is one of the best ways you can bring state of the science cognitive wellness to your community, as well as some fun tips you can use to help everyone kick off 2022 with some play filled brain workouts. 

Reason #1: Play targets the thinking skills impacted by aging 

Aging is known to diminish specific abilities key to our daily functioning, such as sustained attention, speedy  thinking, cognitive flexibility, and short-term memory. Changes in these essential skills can make it harder to stay  physically active, pursue our passions or even stay social. However, experts have found that these skills can be  maintained and even improved with training, no matter our age. Play, especially against the clock, is a ready way  we can engage in the targeted workouts proven to support and even sharpen our thinking. And effective, play based training doesn’t require much commitment. Even short, bursts of activity for a few minutes a day can add up  to be a powerful way to fit brain boosting into everyone’s daily routine. Try taking just 5 minutes to challenge folks  to name all the car models they can, or to create a group poem together by quickly having to offer a line at their  turn. You can even “pop up” in unexpected places or times to give everyone the chance to brain play. 

Reason #2: Play offers the novelty our brains crave 

Our brains really love novelty. Research shows that when something is new to us, we release increased levels  of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which primes the pleasure centers in our brains. What better way to tap that  novelty-driven brain boost than through play? Play gives us a continual opportunity for unexpected outcomes, even when the structure of the game or workout is the same. Each round we play, no matter how familiar the  game, offers its own element of surprise. Play-based cognitive training takes advantage of the benefits of novelty  to deepen the benefits of the workout by motivating us to fully engaged, to learn, and to be empowered to  change and grow. Try cognitive workouts that have an unexpected twist, such as improv exercises like “Yes and…” or creative art exercises such as the famous surrealist art game “exquisite corpse,” where students are asked  to draw on part of a sheet folded in fourths, not seeing or knowing what others are drawing on the other folded  sections.  

Reason #3: Play makes brain training fun and sustainable 

Resolutions to improve our well-being are ever popular at the start of the year. Unfortunately, our promises to  “do better” rarely are kept. Why do so many of us fail to meet our new year’s health goals? Experts tell us that a  major roadblock to making our resolutions stick is that it’s just plain hard to keep up the momentum long enough  to really change our habits. One way we can make our brain health (or any) resolutions more sustainable is by  making that training more playful. Play is fun! It can keep training from getting too tedious and make the work a  bit lighter and less burdensome. In addition, the novelty of play increases the chances we will stay engaged and  excited to learn and change. Finally, play gives us an easy way to join with others in the pursuit of our resolutions.  That additional level of social engagement not only boosts our chances of achieving our health goals but can  benefit our thinking and other aspects of well-being. You can boost the fun and sustainability of everyone’s brain  training goals with the proven benefits of gamification, which uses game-based play elements such as points,  badges, or prizes to drive ongoing work towards a health goal. Try a 1 week brain training point-based challenge  or a community-wide team competition that encourages folks to socialize and support each other as they work  towards better brain health.  

No matter how you integrate play to your cognitive fitness program, it is certain to bring an added boost that folks will benefit from.  

Here’s to a new year filled with many play-filled moments of building better brain health for everyone! 

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3 Reasons We All Can’t Remember Names – And 3 Easy Ways We Can

After so much time apart, it’s a relief to return to in-person gatherings, even if they are smaller and perhaps include a bit of distancing and masks. We are, most importantly, together.

However, some – including many of your residents – may be a bit nervous about those get-togethers, especially as the holidays approach. It has been a while since anyone has met new folks, let alone several at once. Everyone’s social skills might be a bit rusty. And for older adults who are worried they can’t remember as well as they used to, or who are just anxious about their thinking in general after so much time in isolation, your community’s social plans may be a source of mixed emotions.

Luckily, everyone can rev up our recall for names, no matter our age or how much name dropping plagues us. Here’s some of the science behind why we forget names, and some simple ways everyone in your community can train their brains and remember the people they meet this holiday season.

3 Reasons We Can’t Remember Names

Did you know that forgetting names has always been the number one memory complaint of adult Americans? Let’s take a look at why names are so hard to remember.

Life’s distracting. When we meet someone, we aren’t necessarily paying attention when we hear their name. Our thoughts wander, our phones buzz. Since most names take just seconds to say (try having residents time how long it takes to say their names), if during that introduction we start to wonder what’s for dinner, we have lost our chance to learn the name. For most of us, it’s not that we forget the name, but that we don’t get it from the start! But this is an easy fix. If we focus on the name when meeting someone, we are much more likely to learn and retain it.

It’s the choices we make. Many of the lifestyle decisions we make each day can make it harder for us to remember. Things ranging from how much sleep we get to how much we exercise, what medications we take or whether we have a cocktail all can impact how effectively we learn information we want to retain, like a name. Modifying our lifestyle in ways that support cognitive fitness can help us remember everything, including names, better. Try highlighting the value of your wellness offerings as a key way residents can also boost their memory.

We don’t strategize. Memory strategies are the most effective ways we can remember better, yet few people know how to use them. But we all should. Memory strategies have been proven to boost our recall by up to a whopping 33%. How do they work? They get us to pay closer attention to the information and make it more meaningful to us. And they don’t have to be complex or difficult to master to work. We just have to bring some strategy to our name game!

3 Easy Strategies We Can Use to Boost our Name Power

Here are 3 always popular strategies from our Total Brain Health training programs that anyone can do. Teach these strategies to your community members to help everyone remember names better. Try adding 5 minutes of name strategy training to a fitness class or invite community members to practice these methods on each other’s names using a worksheet or challenge. Easy to learn and use, these techniques just take a bit of practice to make a habit whenever we are learning a new name.

Repetition Strategy. Get into the routine of repeating someone’s name when you meet them. We can repeat the name aloud or to ourselves. Repeating the name gives us more opportunity to learn the name by increasing our exposure to the information. And it is simple to do!

Connection Strategy. Often when we hear a name, it reminds us of someone or something else we know already. Piggyback onto that knowledge by connecting the new name with that information. Meeting Susan? Connect her name to a Susan you know or that flower, black-eyed Susan. Doing so gives us a real leg up in retaining that name.

Moviemaking Strategy. Beloved by creative types, this strategy asks us to make a short video in our “mind’s eye” to help us remember the name. The additive power of visual imagery and motion can give a real boost to our recall. Introduced to Frank Hill? Imagine a line of frankfurters marching over a hill.

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What’s On Their Minds? 4 Surprising Things Residents Want from Your Brain Fitness Programs 

Do you know what your residents are thinking about brain fitness?

That’s a question we ponder a lot at Total Brain Health. As leaders in cognitive wellness training, we make it our business to be smart about what motivates adults of all ages and abilities to take better care of their brains. So, what are they looking for?

They want the real deal. Today’s residents (and those looking for tomorrow!) are savvy consumers. They have seen the brain health science and imagine you have, too. You are offering wellness as a stand-apart reason to join your community, and they expect that offer to include meaningful, robust opportunities to rev up their recall, reduce their risk for cognitive loss, and connect with others. And they know that trivia and bingo aren’t going to do that. 

They want to thrive. Your residents – just like the rest of us – want to stay healthy and vital. In fact, marketing reports show wellness engagement is a major driver of community move-ins. Guess what is a perfect match? Brain health. Research confirms that interventions across body, mind, and spirit are critical to brain vitality for everyone along the cognitive continuum. Expert-designed cognitive fitness training can not only meet this need but also help you highlight the value of your overall wellness offerings.

They want to be heard. What do residents want to see on your calendar? Members of your community expect a voice in how they want to spend their time. We know that when residents are asked, memory improvement training and brain fitness programs are always – always! – at the top of their list. You can show you value those expectations by delivering cutting-edge cognitive wellness training. Your calendar can be chock-a-block with activities, but if it doesn’t show you are including ones that are worth their while, satisfaction and attendance will be low. And nobody wants that.

They want to keep going on their own. Residents know brain fitness doesn’t just happen once a week. They are looking for sustainable ways to bring brain training home, with on-demand workouts they can do on their own or with each other. Your cognitive wellness program should have “legs” that give them hands-on ways to take what they’ve learned and continue building better brainpower on their own time. Offering folks agency over their brain health can not only make them happier and more confident but also gives you a smart way to extend program reach while preserving your team’s precious time.

At Total Brain Health, we know there’s a lot of collective wisdom in what your residents want from your brain fitness offerings. That’s why we are sure to listen. Our team is always looking for innovative ways to go beyond providing cutting-edge training and ensure that we partner with you in ways that challenge, engage and delight everyone in your community.

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