Mental Stimulation
Although memory varies, many people retain memory as they grow older. For others, memory loss is observable by the age of 70 in the areas that include:
- memory
- language
- attention
- executive function, (multi-tasking) and
- visual abilities 38
The sharpest decline in these process skills and adaptive behaviors occur by age 80. This decline is far less pronounced in people with healthy lifestyles that included a love for learning or insatiable curiosity. 39,40
Mental stimulation and leisure activities engaged by older individuals improve memory and overall cognitive function if participation is frequent and routine. 41 For example, activities designed to improve visual and auditory memory show benefit when
- short term memory is specifically targeted.
The activities that provide the most benefit in reducing memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, traumatic brain injury, and Parkinson’s disease are
- writing
- reading, and
- playing musical instruments. 41
To not only increase memory, but to effectively maintain functional independence in daily activity, the single most productive activity is
- frequent participation in activities that employ reason. 42,43
Using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) as a pre test, program plans are designed to target specific deficit skills. 16 Healthy Lifestyles in Aging, Inc. is a copyrighted program (2008). Activities from the program are selected to
- improve specific deficit skills at the participant’s instructional level of functioning.
- match the changing instructional level of the participants.
Healthy Lifestyles in Aging, Inc. individually designs each program to avoid levels of frustration. Growth and improvement in memory is unlikely to occur if mental stimulation focuses on skills levels at either end of the spectrum such as skills that are
- Too easy / fall within the independent level of functioning or
- Too difficult / fall within the frustration level of functioning
Healthy Lifestyles in Aging, Inc. is NOT:
- ONE SIZE FITS ALL PROGRAM. It is designed from pretest assessment in order to target individual deficit areas.
- THERAPY that focus on one specific area such as gross and fine motor movement, speech, or social development. Instead, Healthy Lifestyles in Aging, Inc. combines interventions to promote physical activity, social engagement, and mental stimulation.
- DRILL AND PRACTICE. Healthy Lifestyles in Aging, Inc. is designed to utilize the present level of ability and build skill acquisition quickly through leveled programming.
Healthy Lifestyles in Aging, Inc. provides facilities with a variety of program plans:
- small group design with participants grouped according to functioning level
- individual program plan for direct instruction
- task box program