At Seniors At Home’s Center for Dementia Care, we believe that healthy aging begins long before memory loss becomes a concern. Our team is dedicated to helping older adults maintain cognitive vitality, supporting those who may be at risk for—or simply worried about—memory changes, so they can stay healthy and independent for as long as possible. As part of this commitment, Seniors At Home recently adopted the Mind Sharpener™ program—an innovative cognitive wellness workshop that offers structured, engaging brain exercises in a supportive group environment.
“I define healthy aging as being very well informed about all different topics related to aging and then planning for everything. When something presents itself, you’re not starting from scratch,” explains Andrea Korsunsky, Director of Care Management at Seniors At Home. This philosophy forms the foundation of Mind Sharpener, which emphasizes the importance of treating your brain like a muscle that needs regular exercise.
While medical science cannot guarantee prevention of conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, neurologists agree that treating your mind like a muscle and working it out regularly can help maintain cognitive function. Mind Sharpener—developed by the New England Cognitive Center—puts this principle into practice through its carefully designed 12-week program that targets six major cognitive areas of the brain: reaction time, attention and concentration, memory, language, visual-spatial activity, and problem solving.
The program’s success lies not just in its cleverly designed exercises but in its approach to teaching. Instructors take time to explain how each activity connects to real-world applications. “When we explain that having quick reaction time helps you stay safe in situations like preventing a fall when navigating an unfamiliar environment or avoiding fast-moving or previously undetected obstacles, participants understand the value,” says Korsunsky. This understanding helps maintain motivation and engagement throughout the program.
A typical session might include exercises that seem simple at first but challenge participants in unexpected ways. One such activity involves responding to visual and audio cues with increasing speed, helping to improve reaction time—a crucial skill for everyday safety, from avoiding accidents in the kitchen to responding quickly to unexpected situations while driving or otherwise in motion.
Results have been encouraging. In anonymous surveys, participants overwhelmingly reported improvements in their memory and cognitive function. One measure of success comes from comparing performance on exercises from the first session to the last. Participants noted feeling significant improvement in their abilities by the program’s conclusion.
For many, the benefits go beyond measurable gains. Georgia, a recent Mind Sharpener participant, shared her experience:
“The mind sharpening class was really fun! I found myself looking forward to it every week. I signed up for it because I was worried about my memory and attention skills. I learned some things about myself including what I was sharp and/or fast at doing using my brain and how I could sharpen other brain functions. I also came to accept that it was not about ‘getting an A’ but exercising our minds that was important. A side benefit was meeting and bonding with the other people in the class and even socializing with them when a session was over.”
The social aspect of Mind Sharpener has proven to be an unexpected bonus. One recent group became so connected over the course of the workshop that they requested to continue meeting monthly even after the program ended.
The ideal participant is someone who is personally motivated to engage in brain exercises and hasn’t been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. “This is something that they need to be interested in—to find the fun in it,” Korsunsky emphasizes. “People who just show up and go home aren’t going to get the full experience.”
Looking ahead, Mind Sharpener is expanding its reach. Seniors At Home’s Center for Dementia Care plans to offer sessions quarterly across our four regions: San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin, and Sonoma.
The Mind Sharpener program represents a proactive approach to cognitive wellness, offering participants not just exercises for their minds, but a deeper understanding of how to maintain cognitive health as they age. It’s helping participants take charge of their cognitive health one session at a time.
Seniors At Home provides a broad continuum of services for aging adults. Our approach to healthy aging centers on the strengths and abilities of each individual. To learn more, visit our Healthy Aging page or call 415‑449‑3700 to discuss your needs.