“Thanks to the passion of our teams, TBH has not only educated residents about brain health but also sparked purpose and connection in their daily lives. Together, we are proving that brain health programming can truly be life changing.”

Jayne Sallerson, President and COO, Charter Senior Living

Brain health is a top three health concern of older adults. More than ever, community residents expect you to offer enriched cognitive fitness programs that gives them the chance to stay sharp and connected and reflects a commitment to help them age with vibrance.

It stands to reason therefore that offering meaningful brain wellness training should be a “no brainer” for senior living companies. However, the challenge of launching a new initiative across multiple locations, each with their own strengths and challenges, can be daunting. What does it take to add cognitive training to your wellness programs in a way that is inclusive of your team, engages residents, and meets your goals for success?

Charter Senior Living’s recent brain fitness initiative is a case book study for how companies can bring better cognitive health to their communities. Their recent launch across 65 communities met with outstanding results. Survey results from over 300 residents showed that:

• 94% were overall satisfied with the TBH programs
• 87% said they increased their knowledge about brain health
• 95% discovered new opportunities to socialize and engage with their peers
• 86% tried new brain-healthy activities as a result of the program
• 100% expressed interest in continuing with another TBH course

Charter’s grand slam rollout has set a new standard here at TBH, and one we are proud to share as a best practices case study as you add cognitive fitness to your offerings.

What is the secret sauce to Charter’s success? Here are some of the steps that really made their launch shine.

Take Training Seriously

Charter made a clear commitment to making sure their team was prepared to lead the TBH courses, with an upfront goal of 100% TBH trainer certification within the first month of launch. Strategic decisions setting aside time for staff training, regular TBH support calls, as well as personalized support for team members who needed additional help. These steps underscored leadership’s seriousness about trainer preparation and helped them meet their training goals with great success. Leadership then took the extra step of collaborating with TBH to create a training manual for their team, simplifying team members’ access to support and program resources post-training.

Integration is Essential

A well-planned integration of the new brain health program into STRIVE, Charter’s existing wellness initiative, eased program adoption across the communities. Amber Dahle, Charter’s VP of Memory Care and Resident Programming, worked closely with TBH to create a company-wide TBH class schedule that seamlessly wove the program into STRIVE’S trimester plan, giving trainers clear directions for class promotion, scheduling and engaging residents. This uniform TBH timeline made it easier for trainers to focus on teaching and celebrating residents’ success. In addition, leadership introduced Total Brain Health to other departments, with high touch introductions to national and community level leadership, including marketing. As Dahle shared, “(T)ying TBH into our SPARK program has also been a highlight, allowing us to involve prospects, partner with marketing, and shine a spotlight on brain health and healthy aging.”

Lead the Way

Perhaps most critical to the success of Charter’s brain fitness initiative launch was leadership’s visible investment in the success of the TBH programs across their communities. Corporate wellness leaders guided their direct service team with a winning combination of high expectations and generous support. This ensured team members understood both the high organizational value of the program and their access to resources they needed to meet those goals, including ready assistance from leadership, TBH, as well as experienced peers when needed. Leadership’s commitment showed in ways that were both overt, such as the dedication of time and resources to the new program, as well as more subtly, for example completing the trainer certificate training along with their team. As a result, team members were well prepared and enthusiastic as they engaged residents in the program, sharing feedback such as “(I)t has been a fantastic class – they can’t wait for the next one!”

Celebrate Success

Charter’s best practices model is completed by their emphasis on celebrating the success of the TBH programs to residents, trainers, families and the greater community. The highly social, interactive nature of the TBH programs provided wonderful opportunities to showcase these new, fun engagement workouts using social media, with many communities posting detailed descriptions and photographs visible to residents, families, the TBH audience, and other followers. Results of student surveys were shared with all team members and corporate leadership, resulting in even greater buy-in and enthusiasm for the new program. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, residents celebrated their own personal successes, sharing feedback such as “(T)his class has given me hope, the sense to move forward in my life.”

For more information on the Total Brain Health programs to support brain wellness with guided, group-based holistic training for older adults, contact us at info@totalbrainhealth.com. 

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For the third year running, TBH is the proud sponsor of the Evolve Foresight Senior Living Awards celebrating those whose work inspires and whose dedication to the elders they serve leaves you wanting to do better yourself?

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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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September 2020 | Neurology Clinical Practice  Over-the-counter cognitive enhancement supplements may contain multiple unapproved drugs. The health effects of consuming untested combinations of unapproved drugs at unpredictable dosages without clinician oversight in supplements is unknown. Click here to read the full article. 

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October 2020 | Harvard Health  Can music really affect your well-being, learning, cognitive function, quality of life, and even happiness? A recent survey on music and brain health conducted by AARP revealed some interesting findings about the impact of music on cognitive and emotional well-being. Click here to read the full article. 

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Hot Off the Press! Blood Test for Alzheimer’s Disease, Flu Vaccines Reduce Dementia Risk, and More: Research Highlights from the 2020 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference You Need to Know

Each July the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference offers a glimpse of the cutting-edge research on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. This year’s conference, held online, included many exciting advances in the science of dementia. Here are a few that you need to know about.

Coming Soon to Your Doctor’s Office? A Blood Test for Alzheimer’s Disease.  Several researchers reported significant progress towards an easily available diagnostic blood test for Alzheimer’s disease. Studies found that tests for abnormal versions of tau protein, specifically p-tau217, could potentially identify the disease with more specificity than current methods and in some cases even two decades before dementia symptoms occur. This finding is particularly exciting as early biomarkers have long been the “holy grail” of Alzheimer’s research. Currently diagnosis of dementia is made once clinical changes are evident and significant deterioration has already been established. Early biomarkers like a blood test would allow scientists to identify those with the disease or at risk before clinical changes have been established, making it easier to design effective interventions to delay or arrest the disease. A simple serum test would also be less costly and more accessible than current diagnostic tests. But don’t expect your doctor to have an Alzheimer’s test available anytime soon. While these findings are a huge step forward, research must continue with larger, confirmatory studies prior to available testing for the general public. Not surprisingly, the idea that a blood test for Alzheimer’s disease is within reach gained a lot of press. For a good overview of the research, see this article from the New York Times. 

Get That Vaccine! Flu and Pneumonia Vaccines Shown to Reduce Dementia Risk. Looking for something you can do right now to reduce your dementia risk? Get your vaccines! Research presented at the AAIC showed that getting even one flu vaccine could reduce your risk for Alzheimer’s disease by 17%, with more frequent flu vaccination adding another 13% reduction in risk. Other research found that the pneumonia vaccine offered even greater protection against Alzheimer’s dementia, reducing risk by up to 40% in those ages 65-75 years. As Maria Carillo, Chief Science Officer of the Alzheimer’s Association, shared “It may turn out to be as simple as if you’re taking care of your health in this way — getting vaccinated — you’re also taking care of yourself in other ways, and these things add up to lower risk of Alzheimer’s and other dementias.” Given that the seasonal flu and pneumonia already carry greater health risks as we age, these additional findings make getting your flu and pneumonia vaccines a “no brainer.” Here’s a great article covering the vaccine research from NPR. 

Even More Proof that It’s Never Too Early to Think About a Brain Healthy Lifestyle. AAIC presentations included several confirming that a brain healthy lifestyle from an early age essential to reducing dementia rates. Of particular note are studies showing cardiac risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure and being overweight in teenagers and young adults are associated with a significant decrease in late-life cognition, particularly among African Americans. Other researchers reported a higher body mass index (BMI) in adolescence was associated with greater dementia risk in older adulthood, a risk that was even more significant for women. Finally, other research demonstrated that high-quality early education was associated with significantly improved cognition, memory and reduced dementia risk in later years. While these findings confirm earlier research, together they continue underscore the need for a strong public health approach to dementia prevention that stresses the importance of brain health at every age. Dr. Maria Carrillo, Chief Science Officer, Medical and Scientific Relations, at the Alzheimer’s Association, speak to CNN about this latest research here.

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June 2020 | A Total Brain Health Opinion. At Total Brain Health, we stand against violence, inequality, and intolerance of any kind.As demonstrations for change continue around our nation, we will completely and emphatically continue to support Black lives and help foster the change needed for a more just society and to repair the world.  Click here to read the article.

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January 2020 | U.S. New & World Report. New research suggests neighborhood-level factors could affect the risk of developing Alzheimer’s or other dementias. Click here to read the article.

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Feb 2020 | Healthy Day. A breakthrough study has identified a class of natural gene variants that may protect against Alzheimer’s disease. Click here to read the article.

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