StrongerMemory: Accessible Brain Health Program for Senior Centers

5 (6 votes)

Only available as part of a package

Q3: Skillbuilding: StrongerMemory: Accessible Brain Health Program for Senior Centers

StrongerMemory is a brain health exercise program which stimulates the prefrontal cortex of the brain by reading aloud, writing by hand, and doing simple math quickly for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Preliminary research shows that this is a promising program with statistically significant improvements in cognitive Mini-MOCA scores. In this session, participants will hear how the state of Maryland piloted a state-wide effort for StrongerMemory and evaluate the challenges and success that was experienced. Participants will leave demonstrating how to share this easy brain exercise program with a group or with individuals.

At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Describe a few activities you can do to reduce your risk of dementia and improve your focus and brain health.
Evaluate the successes and challenges of rolling out StrongerMemory or another brain health program.
Demonstrate how to facilitate and share brain health exercises like StrongerMemory with a group or individual.

Michelle Mai (Moderator)

Senior Program Associate

National Council on Aging

Michelle Mai, MPH is the Senior Program Associate with the Center for Healthy Aging. She brings experience conducting outreach increasing public health education within the community. In this role with NCOA, she provides technical assistance to chronic disease self-management education and falls prevention grantees, striving to help them reach their grant goals as they implement evidence based programs into their community. Michelle received her Master’s degree in Public Health and Bachelor’s degree in Community Health from George Mason University.

Jessica Fredericksen MSW, CADDCT, CDP

Director of Brain Health

Goodwin Living

Jessica Fredericksen is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis and has a Master in Social Work (MSW) focused on Older Adults & Aging. Jessica has been in the field of senior living since 2015 and has developed a passion and expertise around dementia and brain health. Jessica currently serves as the Director of Brain Health at Goodwin Living, a non-profit senior organization. Since joining Goodwin Living, Jessica has led efforts to share their innovative brain health exercise program, StrongerMemory, throughout the country. Through her and her team's diligent efforts, StrongerMemory has positively impacted over 11,600 individuals. Jessica also regularly writes articles about brain health and is a featured expert on Seasons.com. Jessica gladly serves on the Northern Virginia Dementia Care Consortium, the LeadingAge Virginia education committee, and chairs the Dementia Friendly Arlington Action Team.

Theresa Mandela RN, BSN, CDP

StrongerMemory Outreach Coordinator

Goodwin Living

Theresa brings more than 30 years of experience as a registered nurse in service to older adults. She is a certified dementia practitioner with additional credentials in quality improvement and cognitive assessment.