Programming to Stimulate Mental Fitness

1. Programming to Stimulate Mental Fitness Sarah Kneisler, RMT/NHA 920-655-7162 skneisler@new.rr.com

2. The Brain • Brain=mental challenge • Heart=physical challenge • Brain Health=mental and physical challenge

3. The Brain • 100 billion neurons (nerve cells) • 10,00-25,000 dendrites (nerve connections) which send important information • One quadrillion dendrites between neurons • Learn something new-create new connections-retrieve something old-develop ruts

4. The Functioning Brain • The chemical neutrophin is produced in the brain when it is stimulated in novel ways. • Dendrites increase in size***

5. The Brain • Maximum volume-Age 20 • Volume decreases with age • Dementia is NOT a normal consequence of aging • “The more we learn and stimulate our brain the less brain capacity we lose” July 2004, INR Seminar, “The Aging Brain, The Rejuvenated Brain”

6. The Brain GOOD NEWS You can “teach an old dog new tricks” You can be “older and wiser”

7. Preventing Dementia “It’s like having more cell towers in your brain to send messages along. The more cell towers you have, the fewer missed calls.” P. Murali Doraiswamy, chief of biological psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center and author of “the Alzheimer’s Action Plan Dr. Marion Diamond

8. Aerobics of the Mind • Marge Engleman • Mentally stimulating activities that “light up” the areas of the brain-PET scans • Anytime/anywhere

9. Word Games • Spelling Bees-Forward and Backward • Word Definitions • Word Pairs or Trios • Rhyming Words • Proverbs and Nursery Rhymes • Alphabet Game/Subject

10. Word Definitions The month of March begins with the letter M. Match the definition to a food that starts with the letter M. This is a tube-shaped pasta, sometimes paired with cheese This is a sap from a tree that when boiled produces something to top your pancakes This is a substitute for butter This is a soft, Italian cheese often used on pizza

11. Word Trios March is the third month of the year. Fill in the final word of these word trios Hop, skip and …. Faith, hope and…. Tom, Dick and ….. Stop, drop and… Stop, look and…. Lock, stock and…. Love, honor and….

12. Alphabet Game by Subject March is Frozen Food Month. Use the alphabet to name founds that can be found in the frozen food department at the grocery store/ A= B= C= D=

13. Matching Games • Madison • Houston • Sacramento • Charleston • Tampa • Florida • Texas • California • West Virginia • Wisconsin

14. Finding the “odd” word Beech Oak Fir Willow Poplar Tulip Daffodil Crocus Fern Jonquil Banana Tomato Cherry Corn Peach

15. The Clock Game • 12 letter words arranged in a circle • New letter combinations • Google 12 letter words Screwdrivers----demonstrate

16. Famous Quote Completion ___________________ saves nine ___________________ like son ___________________ the heart is ___________________ louder than words

17. Complete these Song Titles Complete These Song Titles that Begin with the Letter M like March Mack the …. Ma! He’s Making … Mairzy… The Man on the ….. Mary’s a Grand… Me and My…. Meet Me in ……

18. Board Games • Brain Quest • Scattergories • Twenty Questions • Blurt • Pictionary • Outburst

19. Creative Activities • Name that Tune • Song Writing • Poetry or Story Writing (Reading Group)

20. Name that Tune Volunteer: “Fake” book, pre-recorded or www.upchucky.com (Juke Box) or www.woodchucky.com

21. Song Writing “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” “Golden Slippers”

22. Poetry Writing Snow by the Residents of Good Shepherd Home Make a snowman, Go sledding, Take the snowmobile for a ride, Ski down a hill, Roads become tunnels after the plow goes through….

23. Revisit a Skill from Your Past • Skill learning (muscle memory) can be retrieved and relearned • Stay will the skill for several days to be certain it is relearned

24. Thinking “Outside the Box” • Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?  • If the professor on Gilligan's Island can make a radio out of a coconut, why can't he fix a hole in a boat? 

25. Watching Television • Watching television=sleeping • Average adult=43 hours/week • Watch game shows • Balance*

26. The Value of Socialization: The best single brain activity* • Isolation can have negative cognitive effects • Socialization reduces the risk of: • Developing dementia • Becoming disabled • Socialization promotes: • Better physical and mental health • Has the same effect of performing mental exercises • Never have the same conversation twice

27. The Value of Socialization • “Loneliness Test” • 2007 Archives of General Psychiatry • Less tangles in plaques in post-mortem brains • “Helpers High”*

28. Numbers • Math problems-left side of the brain-deteriorates first • Story problems • Flash cards • Counting forward/backward by 2’s, 3’s, etc.

29. Deep Breathing • 20% of oxygen to the brain • Shallow breathing in elderly • More oxygen to the brain/better posture

30. Physical Exercise/Deep Breathing • Tai Chi • Senior Yoga • Singing

31. Memorization “The more you memorize, the more you will be able to memorize” Memory assignments in school?

32. “Neurobics” • Term invented by Lawrence Katz and Manning Rubin • Brain exercise that uses the brain in novel ways using the senses to increase mental “ROM”

33. “Neurobics” • Using the 5 senses stimulates different areas of the brain • We only use a small portion of the brain • Specific types of sensory stimulation can produce novel activities in the brain that promote brain growth and agility

34. “Neurobics” • Enhance memory • Enhance mental agility • Provide healing after a stroke or head injury • Delay the onset/progression of dementia

35. “Neurobics” and the Rattle

36. Stimulating the Sense of Smell • The sense of smell can create some of our very best memories. Once you have identified a smell, you will never forget it • “Aftershave” • Grandma’s perfume • Kitchen smells • Vicks and Ponds • Early sign of dementia

37. An Experiment: Using the Sense of Smell Take a bottle of perfume or something with a pleasant aroma. Smell it and then read a short paragraph, thinking about the meaning of the words. Smell the item again. The next day, smell the object again. You will find that the contents of the paragraph will come back quickly.

38. Stimulating the Sense ofSmell** • Use of aromas: www.scentsiblesolutions.com (a subsidiary of Loving Scents) • Restore Peace: Pink Grapefruit and frankincense • Insomnia/Pain: Lavender and Bergamot • Caregivers: Orange, lemon, cinnamon and ylang ylang

39. Stimulating the Sense of Taste** • Try new foods • Pop Rocks • Breath Strips • Sweet and Salty • Lip balms/gloss

40. Stimulating the Sense of Hearing:Memory and Music • “The Alphabet Song” or “The Nifty Fifty States” or the Chemical Element Table • Letters, words and rhythms processed on the left • Musical melody processed on the right

41. Stimulating the Sense of Sight • “SnoezelenTM” equipment • Light Ropes • Aquariums • Outdoor decorations • Exercise equipment in late stage dementia • Mobiles

42. Stimulating the Sense of Touch “Curiosity” Unusual sensory items Hot/cold Fur collar Familiar religious object Brushing hair

43. Stimulating the Sense of Touch • Sifting through sand/dirt • Kneading dough • Kool-aid and other clays • Bubble wrap • Zippers (pencil case) • Finger painting

44. Stimulating the Sense of Touch (and Smell)

45. Sensory Stimulation: All Senses Multi Sensory Room with SnoezelenTM • Stimulation vs. Relaxation • Restraint free time/Facilitated Sleep/Reduced Falls • Variety of equipment appealing to all senses • Purposeful activity suited to individual needs

46. Multi Sensory RoomSnoezelenTM Technique • Bubble tubes • Fiber optic lights • Massage techniques • Soothing music • Aromatherapy • Comfortable Furnishings • Projected Images

47. Bubble Tubes and Fiber Optics

50. Name the Color Brown Blue Yellow Purple Red Brown Gray Pink Black Blue Brown Orange Red Purple Black Orange