CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A nonprofit organization that provides programs for adults with dementia has launched a brain health workshop.
What You Need To Know
- A 12-week workshop aims to delay or slow down the onset of dementia
- The workshops are built around the six pillars of brain health: connect, move, sleep, nourish, discover and mindfulness
- The next workshop starts April 29
The Ivey initially operated as a North Carolina-certified, full-time adult daycare program from 2008 to 2020. In the summer of 2020, it reopened as a group respite program for people with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia.
Last year, it added a 12-week Brain Health Solutions workshop for people in their 50s and 60s.
“The pandemic has just allowed us the opportunity to pivot and really put our arms around prevention and wellness,” The Ivey Program Manager Jennifer Olin said. “The point of the workshops is to try and help the community before the onset of dementia.”
Christy and Boyd Holland graduated from the program last year.
“We are feeling we don’t have a sad journey ahead of us. We have an exciting journey that is filled with discovery and health, love and connection,” Christy Holland said.
Boyd Holland's mom, Anita, has Alzheimer’s disease.
“Alzheimer’s is often referred as the long goodbye. We’ve been saying bye to Anita for 10 years," Christy Holland said.
Boyd Holland said his mother was an interior designer in Charlotte for 25 years, and she's always been a joy to be around.
“I think my mom is one of the funniest, wittiest, caring people I’ve ever known,” he said.
Boyd Holland's dad is Anita's primary caregiver. The three of them went on two special trips with Anita this past fall to create lasting memories with her.
“At some point it is likely she will no longer know who we are, and she will not be able to physically do a trip like this," Boyd Holland said.
At the time Christy and Boyd attended the workshop, Anita took part in the group respite program at The Ivey.
“On Fridays, we were coming to the brain health workshop learning how to be healthy in our own lives, but then Monday through Thursday, we were coming to these doors picking up or dropping off Anita, who is on a declining journey with Alzheimer’s. That was a very intense experience but community here at The Ivey were always supporting us from different angles," Christy Holland said.
During the workshop, experts talk about the six pillars of brain health: connect, move, sleep, nourish, discover and mindfulness.
“We will be able to use for the rest of our lives and we’ll also walk away with relationships we’ll have for the rest of our lives,” Boyd Holland said.
Novant Health Memory Care & Behavioral Neurology Medical Director Dr. Mark Pippenger, who is not affiliated with the workshop at The Ivey, said lifestyle modifications can have a big impact. According to him, it’s estimated they can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by up to 40%.
“Eating a heart healthy diet: that’s like a diet like the Mediterranean diet or the DASH diet, which the American Heart Association publishes, and staying cognitively active, doing things to stretch one's mind or exercise one's mind, like games, puzzles, learning new things, learning a new language or taking up a new hobby, things of that nature will reduce that risk,” Pippenger said.
He added that currently there are no drugs that can help prevent dementia. However, these practices along with 30 minutes of physical activity five times a week can make a difference.
Christy and Boyd have become more proactive and creative in finding new ways to stay active and practice mindfulness, including taking daytrips to nearby towns, trying new recipes to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their diets and staying away from unhealthy food.
They are embracing the changes in honor of Anita.
“We are proud to be on team Anita, and we know if this happened to us, she would be on our team,” Christy Holland said.
The workshop, which takes place on Fridays, costs $1,200.
The next workshop starts on April 29.