Exercising Your Mind

September is back to school time for kids! Time for new backpacks, notebooks, and pencils! While students prepare for another year, learning shouldn’t stop at a specific age. Keeping your brain stimulated and active is an important part of healthy aging. Here are five easy tips to exercise your mind!

1. Reading: The National Institute on Aging recommends reading books and magazines as a way of keeping your mind engaged as you grow older. Studies show that reading has a positive effect on physical and mental health. Individuals that read more were less likely to face cognitive decline.

For individuals living with dementia who may have a harder time reading longer novels, magazines, poetry, or short stories can be a great option.

2. Journaling: Journaling about your day can be a great way to strengthen your episodic memory. It has also been proven to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, which are risk factors for dementia.

For caregivers, journaling can be an excellent way to relieve stress and express your feelings. It can also be used as a time to focus on positive things or express gratitude.

3. Puzzles: Whether you do jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, sudoku, or word searches, puzzles can be a great way to keep your mind sharp! Research has shown that jigsaw puzzles, in particular, require multiple cognitive abilities and they can be protective against visuospatial cognitive aging. In other words, puzzles require us to use different types of thinking which helps keep those skills strong.

4. Learn a new skill: Learning a new language or to play a new instrument isn’t just a fun way to impress people at parties. It is also a great way to keep your mind sharp! Consider a free online language learning app or taking a class at your community center!

5. Dance: According to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), learning new dance moves can increase your brain’s processing speed and your memory. You can join a dance class at your local community center or just dance away in your own kitchen!

Dementia Support Program

ABOUT US

The RAFT Dementia Support Program is a new initiative in Northern Virginia that is part of the RAFT Program. The RAFT Dementia Support Program fulfills a vital community need for individuals with dementia and their caregivers to prevent psychiatric hospitalizations, and to provide comprehensive education and planning to improve caregiver resilience while improving safety and stability in community placement. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

RAFT Webinar: Promoting Safety At Home and In the Community For Older Adults Living with Dementia

October 29th, 12 PM - 1 PM

Staying safe in and out of the home can be a major concern for
caregivers and family members of someone living with dementia. Join RAFT for an interactive webinar on safety. We will discuss potential home modifications to prevent falls
and other home safety
considerations. We will also discuss prevention and intervention methods for wandering and elopement.

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The 39th Annual Northern Virginia Dementia Care Consortium 

Saturday, November 22nd, 8:30 AM - 4:30PM

This year's theme is "Putting the Pieces Together in Dementia Caregiving." Attendees will discover insights from Barry Jacobs, Julie Mayer and Rachael Wonderlin, experts on caregiving, aging and dementia and walk away with useful tips, tools, local resources, and connections with fellow caregivers. Tickets to attend cost $35 and include continental breakfast, lunch, materials, workshops from a variety of dementia care professionals, and certificate of attendance. Learn more about NVDCC and register to attend here.

MAKE A REFERRAL

Anyone can make a referral to the program, using the online referral form. Or contact Sydney Palinkas at spalinkas@arlingtonva.us or 703-814-2701. 

CONTACT US

7611 Little River Turnpike
Suite 200
Annandale, VA 22003

Phone: 703-531-2144
TTY: 703-228-1788

www.raftnorthernvirginia.org