Cognitive Impairment
Maybe you’ve noticed a few changes in yourself or a loved one. Simple tasks seem to take longer. More and more, things are forgotten or misplaced. The fact is, our brains change as we age and some forgetfulness is to be expected. But if you’re having ongoing or increasing concerns about mental performance, it’s important to know that there are things you can do to maintain, and in some cases improve, cognitive function, memory and thinking skills.
TomMD Senior Living pioneered a comprehensive therapeutic program to specifically address the needs and abilities of our residents with Mild Cognitive Impairment and early stage memory loss. What makes our program unique is the combination of a wellness model with mental fitness to create a Cognitive Fitness lifestyle.
Cognitive fitness program is best for
Seniors with mild cognitive impairment or mild to moderate memory loss
Individuals who need more support, but do not need a secured setting
Non-secured memory care within assisted living
Living with memory loss doesn’t have to happen behind closed doors. Our programs are specifically designed for residents who have experienced cognitive changes and need more support but don’t need a secured memory care environment. These residents live in assisted living residences but participate in a structured day of activities designed to help maintain cognitive function. Activities are therapeutic, with attainable goals and conducted in a small group setting to encourage residents stay involved, maintain function, build confidence and have happy, fulfilling days.
Focused on our residents
Therapeutic goal is to build cognitive reserve to improve efficiency and flexibility for processing information
Programs and training designed in-house for quick response to changes in research and resident preferences/needs
Small group-based, comfortably structured to include residents with similar abilities
Dedicated, specially trained team to develop and lead daily activities
7 day-a-week program, from breakfast to dinner
Personalized activities adapted to create the “just right challenge” for residents with mild cognitive impairment and mild to moderate memory loss
Daily mental workouts engage 6 domains of mental fitness: critical thinking, memory-body movement, learning, sequencing, long-term memory and problem solving
A proven method
Research links dementia-associated apathy to accelerated decline in all physical and mental areas. When cognitive changes start, withdrawal and isolation are common. Our guided program encourages residents to consistently socialize and participate in therapeutic activities to reduce apathy and build cognitive reserve.
To evaluate program effectiveness, we recently compared two cognitively similar groups of our assisted living residents. One group was enrolled in Cognitive Fitness program. The second group was not, but chose from a similar menu of activities to attend on their own. The participation standard for both groups was four hours a day.
Results
What we learned was that approximately 75% of the residents in our Cognitive Fitness group spent a minimum of four hours per day engaged in purposeful activities, with less than one-fourth exhibiting apathy. However, less than a third of the group of self-directed participants met the study’s minimum participation standard and nearly two-thirds exhibited apathy. For residents who are beginning to experience cognitive decline, the benefits of a guided program can be significant in helping to maintain engagement and function.