In addition to training, the workshop presents sensible ideas and tips.

“So, if you can’t enact every part of a brain-healthy diet, we help participants think of small ways to incorporate aspects of a more Mediterranean-style diet,” Cohen stated. “Or if you can’t fit in a full 30 minutes of exercise at once, break it up into ‘exercise snacks’ by taking a 10-minute walk two or three times a day.” 

The workshop additionally focuses on setting attainable objectives.

“We try to drive home — nobody is helpless, and they can change their lives,” stated Mindy Myers, a scientific educator at UD’s SLH Clinic. “It’s one thing to say, ‘I’m going to eat better,’ but to set specific goals and create plans to make that happen is key.” 

Len Freedman, who’s lived at Jenner’s Pond for over six years, discovered worth in aim setting.

“Diet is one aspect I’ve realized I need to work on along with my flexibility and balance,” Freedman stated. 

The workshop additionally positioned residents in small group discussions, the place they might set attainable objectives collectively. Graduate college students within the Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program inside the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders performed a pivotal function in facilitating these conversations and conducting cognitive testing.

“Working with aging adults will make me a better clinician,” Julia Cameron stated. “I’ve learned so much by interacting with this population; I’m just soaking it all in so I can apply the knowledge to my placement at Peninsula Regional Medical Center, where I’ll work with older adults with cognitive difficulties.” 

Second-year SLP scholar Gracie Goetz stated this expertise solidified that she’s on the best profession path.

“Face-to-face interactions like this help you realize this is truly a helping profession,” Goetz stated. “You must want to help and talk to people; through this, I’ve realized that’s something I really love. It’s powerful to have an impact on people’s lives.” 

Erin Michalcewiz, who’s in her second yr of the SLP grasp’s program, hopes to work with older adults.  

“Every person has their own story, and cognitive difficulties impact everyone differently,” Michalcewiz stated. “Realizing those differing impacts is something I must be mindful of in my future practice.” 

As an educator, incorporating a studying element for graduate college students into these workshops was vital for Van Buren. The scientific supervisor and educator at UD’s SLH Clinic labored to make sure this system included experiential studying alternatives for SLP grasp’s college students.   

“We need to educate the younger generation of practitioners so they understand cognitive changes and can implement strategies and practices into their therapy sessions to counsel older adults,” Van Buren stated. 

As a clinician, Van Buren desires to see extra applications like Brain-WISE.   

“When patients come to the clinic, we wonder— what if they had come in five years sooner? Brain wellness must play a larger role in preventative healthcare,” Van Buren stated. 

The Brain-WISE workshop was so in style that there’s a ready checklist at Jenner’s Pond. Cohen, Van Buren, and Myers plan to launch a second session on the retirement group this fall but additionally purpose to broaden this system to church buildings and senior facilities in underserved communities. Brain-WISE by DECCAR and the SLH Clinic is a shining instance of UD’s group engagement efforts to increase past the Newark campus and meet individuals the place they’re. 

“The public is wildly misinformed about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and the stigma surrounding it makes it difficult to engage with people about research,” Cohen stated. “Our community outreach arm aims to build trust with diverse communities and provide high-quality, vetted health information, reduce stigma, and instill hope to encourage folks to make health behavior changes.” 

The success of this system shall be gauged by means of questionnaires instantly after the conclusion of the sequence of workshops and once more on the three-month mark. But Cohen has already observed constructive conduct modifications in Jenner’s Pond residents, whom he noticed banding collectively to advocate for more healthy eating choices and train on the YMCA subsequent door — proof this system is working. 

“Launching programs like this in places where people already live together can be empowering because we know that health behaviors are best changed together,” Cohen stated. “By delivering the intervention to people who are already together, they can support and hold each other accountable more naturally.”