Learning: The Brain’s Version of Jumping Jacks
Learning: The Brain’s Version of Jumping Jacks
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, which a general term for memory loss and the loss of other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Mental decline is mostly due to altered connections in brain cells; keeping the brain active may help to generate new brain cells and increase the brain’s vitality. It’s the brain’s version of jumping jacks!
It’s never too late to learn something new
The old saying – It’s never too late to learn something new – is true! But it is more than that; it is about continually learning throughout your life. Studies have shown that a lower level of education may be related to a higher risk of Alzheimer’s later in life, due to less mental stimulation throughout a lifetime. Those people who have a higher level of education may be somewhat more protected from Alzheimer’s, possibly because the brain cells and their connections are stronger. More educated people can, and do, still get Alzheimer’s, but the symptoms may appear later.
Try to learn something new every day
Regardless of how old you are, you should continue to learn and stimulate your mind. That doesn’t mean having to get a PhD! Here are 5 simple things you can do to keep your brain active and healthy:
Put down the remote and read a book. Whether you like romance novels, history or fiction, reading is a great way to stimulate your mind. If you don’t want to spend the money to buy a book (or e-book), get a book from your local library.- Take a class. Do you want to learn how to paint, speak a foreign language, or play bridge? There are many adult education classes available at your local park district, community college or adult education center. Find something that you want to learn how to do and do it!
Play games. Do you like to play Scrabble, Monopoly, Bunco or Battleship? Keep playing! Learning can be disguised as fun! Remember, every Wednesday at 5pm, we play BINGO at our facility.- Do crossword, Sudoku or regular puzzles. Whether you are a master at the New York Times crossword puzzle or just like the scenic puzzle that you found at a garage sale, they challenge you to think and keep your mind active.
Garden. Yes, even when you are gardening you are learning something, which stimulates your brain. So throw on those gloves and plant some veggies and flowers!
At Naperville Senior Center, we incorporate games, puzzles, education, gardening and a host of other activities into our daily routine with our Members. We strive to provide them with mental stimulus to keep them active, engaged and included.
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Tour our adult day services facility.
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Hummus and Veggies. If you can make your own hummus, that’s even better, but store-bought is good too. There is less fat than dairy-based dips. Add some fresh veggies like snap peas, sweet peppers, carrots, cukes, celery or broccoli with it and you will have a tasty snack that will fill you up.
Apple Slices with Almond Butter. If you want sweet and salty at the same time, try slicing an apple and add some almond butter to it. It is delish! Fun tip: make little boats with the apple slices, and use a slice of cheese on a toothpick for the sail. Yummy! We did this on Talk Like a Pirate Day!
There have been 
Can you believe it was just one year ago, on St. Patrick’s Day 2015, when we had our first ribbon cutting after opening our doors on February 25? We have had many successes since then! We are excited to have our 1st Anniversary Party and Business After Hours again on St. Patrick’s Day 2016 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm!
Our charter Member, Charlene, started with us the week after we opened. We love having her here; she continues to brighten our days with every visit!
We hosted a mini Walk for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society in June, and raised over $2,400 to fight cancer. We want to be sure our Members continue to exercise – and being able to do it for an important cause was a great motivator!
We provided fun activities for our Members including planting a garden (and then enjoying the fruits and vegetables of their labor), dressing up on Talk Like a Pirate Day, and having children come by before Halloween to get treats and play games with our Members.
We have hosted several Continuing Education (CEU) Workshops after hours for nurses, therapists and social workers. We are happy to provide this amazing venue for the community when they need to come together to gather and learn. Do you need a space to hold your workshop? Give Mike a call at 630-857-3017.
We hosted our 1st Annual Fall Craft and Vendor Fair in November. Thank you to all 23 vendors who joined us for a wonderful event. Our Members were even involved in making most of our crafts that were sold that day.
We hosted our own ‘Oscar’s Day Awards’ with our Members just before the Academy Awards! Our competition was fierce, but we outstanding performances!