Belmont Village Quarterly Newsletter on Senior Living

A New Way of Thinking about
Mental Fitness

Mental agility among older adults is not just a matter of luck. Research shows that brain plasticity occurs whenever something new is learned and memorized. Proper mental fitness can help aging adults maintain, and even increase, cognitive function.

But learning is key - effective mental workouts must include education. It’s not enough to just work crossword puzzles if you’ve been doing them for years – you need to challenge the brain.

Belmont Village has developed an enrichment program for residents called the MBA Club (for mind-body-awareness), combining study findings to focus on critical cognitive domains.  The program incorporates mental and physical workouts, creative activities, and brain-friendly foods.  

The approach is therapeutic, rather than leisure - activities are still fun, but have specific goals. Results have been very positive, with some residents actually showing an increase in function. 

Setting goals and monitoring progress are fundamental. An initial baseline assessment is given. Then a “personal trainer” works with each resident to establish individual goals. Progress is tracked through subsequent assessments.

Activities are kept fresh to hold interest. One of the things that sets MBA Club apart from pre-packaged programs is a regular evaluation of program integrity. Resident feedback, participation and assessments are used to develop activities that achieve the “just right challenge” for each participant. 

For more information about enrichment programs at Belmont Village, please visit http://www.belmontvillage.com/experience/enrichment-programs/

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