Kensington Park’s Annual Speaker Series: Local Author Spotlight
Tuesday, April 16th at 2pm: Susan Coll, Author of Acceptance
Space is limited, click HERE & RSVP Now!
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Kensington Park’s Annual Speaker Series: Local Author Spotlight
Tuesday, April 16th at 2pm: Susan Coll, Author of Acceptance
Space is limited, click HERE & RSVP Now!
Open Mobile Menu

Brain Health as You Age: New Year, New Tools for Cognitive Wellness 

Health is wealth. Start 2023 off on a high note with a free brain health and cognitive wellness webinar.

As part of The Kensington’s ongoing educational series, we partnered with Dr. William Mansbach, the CEO and founder of CounterPoint Health Services to discuss maintaining cognitive health and stress reduction for caregivers and their aging loved ones.

Whether you want to learn how to support your aging loved one’s memory or how to boost your own brain health, this complimentary event is for you! Dr. Mansbach shares simple, tangible tips backed by research that you or your loved one can incorporate into daily life. Learn how to: reduce risk of cognitive decline, identify issues as they arise, measure progress, and implement the 15 for Me program.

What is healthy aging?

Healthy aging is defined as “developing and maintaining” our overall well-being as we age, according to the World Health Organization. 

Ensuring brain and overall cognitive wellness allows us to adapt to meet and maintain our basic needs, including:

  • The ability to learn new things
  • Feeling confident in our decision-making abilities
  • Creating new and nurturing existing relationships
  • Living in a supportive environment

Healthy aging is an ongoing process. It requires making the most out of opportunities that contribute to maintaining our current mental and physical health and taking effective steps toward improving our cognitive health throughout the entirety of our lives.

How can one reduce the risk of cognitive decline?

When it comes to lessening the risk of cognitive decline, we can choose from any number of options that work with our lifestyle or objectives. A recent “UsAgainstAlzheimer’s” workgroup made several recommendations, including: 

  • Getting at least two hours of moderate physical activity each week
  • Improving your quality of sleep, with a goal of sleeping seven to eight hours each 24 hours—this can include naps throughout the day.
  • Ensuring you eat a well-rounded diet containing large quantities of vegetables, fruits & nuts, beans, and whole grains. Limit the consumption of red meat, high-fat dairy products, and fried and processed foods. 
  • Be socially active and increase social connections through community programs, volunteering, or other group activities that prioritize personal interaction.
  • Challenge your brain by continually learning new tasks, routines, languages, or other mentally stimulating activities. 

What is 15 For Me, and how can it help maintain brain health?

With the 15 For Me approach, individuals perform specific activities, incorporating exercise and focusing on intentional breathing to support brain health and cognitive wellness. 

Scientific results have validated the program, which:

  • Takes just a few minutes daily 
  • Can be done anywhere—at home, at work, etc.
  • Requires minimal breaks from your regular daily routine 
  • Works to boost health and well-being and improve how you feel about yourself

The 15 For Me approach to cognitive wellness grew from a desire to use an evidence-based approach to improve well-being. 

Originally aimed at helping healthcare workers reduce stress and lessen physical health issues, the 15 For Me program soon grew beyond its healthcare workplace origins.

Recognize the signs and symptoms of cognitive decline or MCI

Cognitive decline or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) causes changes in how we think and remember, as well as impeding other cognitive skills. 

It can present as requiring assistance managing or adhering to medication schedules or paying bills. Typically, it doesn’t seriously impact everyday activities.

There are two types of MCI: amnestic and non-amnestic

With amnestic MCI, individuals can experience minor memory loss, like forgetting where they put their keys or not remembering a conversation.

With non-amnestic MCI, individuals can experience more significant cognitive issues, including language impairments, visuospatial disturbances, or executive function disruption. 

Some with non-amnestic MCI can struggle to follow conversations, navigate familiar surroundings, or successfully carry out complex tasks like making bill payments on time.

Common signs of MCI can include

  • Forgetfulness—asking the same question multiple times, forgetting recent events, etc.
  • Difficulty reasoning or problem-solving
  • Attention deficiencies such as difficulties focusing or being easily distracted, losing focus during a conversation, etc.
  • Difficulty communicating, including struggling to find the right word or effectively communicating an idea
  • Visual depth perception changes, difficulties judging distances or navigating stairs
  • Sleep disruptions, including problems falling asleep or staying asleep
  • Emotional changes such as depression, irritability, anxiety, etc.

How Kensington Senior Living devotes care to benefit both seniors and their family caregivers

Kensington Park is always exploring fresh and exciting ways to assist our residents and their families, whether through new medications, treatments, or methodologies. 

Our Promise is to love and care for our residents as we do our own family

Because we live by the Promise to love and care for our residents the way we love and care for our own families, we strive to make each day meaningful and rewarding. 

To do this, our compassionate team focuses on providing rehabilitation, life-enriching activities, and services supporting our residents as their care needs change and advance. 

This includes providing a broad assortment of adaptive services, such as: 

Kensington Senior Living, partners in caregiving

At Kensington Park, we work with you to provide care for your loved one in one of our safe, loving, and secure assisted living or memory care neighborhoods, Connections, and Haven. Our Kensington Club also supports early dementia in assisted living.

But don’t take our word for it. Experience the Kensington Park difference for yourself. Contact us today to schedule your personalized tour. 

Or check out our resource blog for insight, advice, caregiver resources, and information about upcoming events like this month’s cognitive wellness webinar.

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