It really takes the fog out of the brain … just great mental exercise.” —HENRY GAGNON
“STAY SHARP,” Henry Gagnon encourages everyone, and laughter and applause ripple through the room as someone solves another crossword clue. Henry and his friends at The Atrium are working together to solve a Never2Late puzzle after a brisk walk in the September sunshine, and the combination of physical and mental exercise is doing exactly that: sharpening their thinking. It’s a brand-new program at The Atrium called Train Your Brain, and it is already a big hit with members.
“The Cedars is committed to a holistic approach to wellness, Lifestyle Coordinator Janine Fifield explains. “Making sure we are caring for our members’ bodies, minds and spirits. Train Your Brain strengthens hearts and minds, lifts moods … it’s fun.”
“Medical research shows that cardiovascular exercise like walking or running improves our mental fitness, too,” Angela Hunt, Chief Operating Officer, explains. “As we age, our cognitive abilities—the way we process language and numbers, our problem-solving skills and our creativity—can slow down if we don’t challenge ourselves.”
“The brain is like any other muscle in your body,” Sharon Leddy- Smart, Member Services Director at The Atrium, adds. “If you don’t use it, you can lose it.”
The Train Your Brain group agrees. “It really takes the fog out of your brain … just great mental exercise,” says Henry.
Train Your Brain is also a true community effort. The Never2Late software, a collection of engaging apps that stimulate thinking, was purchased with funds raised by The Cedars Auxiliary and is a resident favorite in The Skilled Care Center and The Osher Inn. Sharon and Janine were eager to add another program to The Atrium’s long list of social and intellectual offerings, like the Book Club and Current Events Discussion, and their fitness classes. And Angie was intrigued by cutting-edge research around the connection between physical health and mental health as we age.
“The pieces were all there,” Sharon says. “It just clicked.”