Brain Wellness Collaboration
(Draft) Proposal THE WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION OF SENIOR CENTERS (WASC)
To facilitate the recently developed
BRAIN WELLNESS COLLABORATION
To achieve the following Mission/Objectives:
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To maintain or improve the brain health of all adults
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To investigate and share information on brain fitness programs with community leaders, especially those where senior adults gather
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To provide an overview of effective, proven brain fitness programs that are scientifically validated, evidence based, with measurable outcomes.
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To develop partnerships with a variety of organizations
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To promote and deliver community brain fitness programs.
Revised at the April 2009 Brain Wellness Collaboration Group Meeting
Propose to do the following to achieve the above mission and objectives:
The Brain Wellness Collaboration and the Wisconsin Association of Senior Centers will together serve the Senior Centers and Senior Center Directors of the state of Wisconsin; and,
By gathering information on brain wellness programming and resources for older adults will help to promote the growth, development and expansion of Senior Centers, and,
The Wisconsin Association of Senior Centers will serve as a clearinghouse for the exchange of ideas and information related brain wellness and,
The Wisconsin Association of Senior Centers will utilize the WASC website to share effective, proven brain fitness programs and make available information on brain fitness programs for partners newsletters and,
The Wisconsin Association of Senior Centers will serve as the receiving agent of information from the Brain Wellness Collaboration Group to include meeting minutes, articles of interest and brain wellness resources which will be added to the WASC website.
Brain wellness programs and resources available shall be mutually discussed and agreed upon in writing by both parties prior to implementation.
The Brain Wellness Collaboration group will submit articles to the WASC newsletter and make available articles for partners in the Brain Wellness Collaboration group newsletters.
WASC will arrange for the Brain Wellness Collaboration group to meet 4 times in 2010 – Jan 26, April 27, July 27 (by conference call) and Oct. 26 in the Madison area.
The Brain Wellness Collaboration Group has the following partners: Wisconsin Alzheimers Institute (Dr. Asenath LaRue, Barbara Lawrence); WASC (Alison Koelsch; Christine Beatty, Bonnie Wilker; Chris Nye; Cindy Mosiman, Diane Lanaville; Diane Mikelbank, Erica Hoke, Jill Kranz and Melody Reidel) Shawn Brommer, and Marie Navarre-Saaf, Southcentral Library; Pat Peterson, Vernon county, (Aging Unit/ADRC Association); D’Anna Bowman, AARP; Jane Elmer, WREA; Marge Engelman, Brain Wellness expert; Carol Froistad, Madison Central Library; Nancy Meyer, Adult and Continuing Education, Madison Area Technical College; GWaaR (Jill Ballard); Wisc Association of Nutrition Directors (none at present time)
Example of questions the Brain Wellness Collaboration Group will ask:
What kind of Brain Wellness Program do we want to invest in? (taken from The SHARPBRAINS Checklist Based on scientific research?
Is it evidence based? Measurable Claims and benefits?
Ensures cross-training? (Do the exercises vary and teach me something new?)
Is it exercise or entertainment? (Does the program challenge and motivate me, or does it feel like it would become easy once I learned it?)
Is it a good fit for me (Each individual has different goals/needs when it comes to brain health. For example, some want to manage anxiety, others to improve shortterm memory, listen better, improve concentration levels, or reduce the probability of developing problems such as Alzheimer’s over the long term.)
What are we trying to accomplish with a “Brain Wellness Program”? Improve brain functioning Increase membership Increase participation by the 55 – 65 year olds
Submitted by Diane Mikelbank on behalf of Brain Wellness Collaboration Group August 20, 2009