At the appointed time, the lively, colorfully dressed woman skips to the front of the room, announcing that “it’s time for mindful moves” – music and dancing that gets everyone moving to stimulate their brains. Before long, people seated and standing begin moving one arm, then another, alternating to tunes that participants all seem to recognize. As she leads the group, VSA teaching artist, Cynthia “Cyn” Alicea reminds everyone of the importance to move “mindfully” as she calls out tidbits about movements that trigger brain activity as the group follows her lead.
Mindful Moves is a key component of Great Explorations “Memory Mondays”, a program designed to enrich and empower participants through creative, research-backed, non-clinical activities. There is movement, singing, humor and almost always a “surprise” visit from a group of four and 5-year olds who attend some of the museum’s educational programs.
Gloria, one of the program’s loyal participants, looks tentatively around the room. Before long, she is smiling and moving her limbs to the music, not always the correct arm or leg, but moving nonetheless and enjoying herself throughout the activity.
Gloria was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2014 and her ability to live independently and take care of herself has declined. She is now living with her son and daughter-in-law and receives round-the-clock care from family and health care professionals. While her physical health is taken care of, her emotional and spiritual well-being through a strong supportive network of friends has nearly disappeared.
Always on the lookout for resources for her mother Gloria, Nancy learned about Memory Mondays on social media.
“I thought the description of the activities sounded interesting and potentially engaging for my increasingly isolated mother,” said Nancy. “We are now regulars at Memory Mondays and my mom especially enjoys the music and the visits from the children.”
In the spring of 2017, three St. Petersburg women formed the Memory Mondays program and gave themselves the label of the “Brain Dames”. They started this project because of their first-hand experiences with the devastating impact of memory-related diseases on their own families.
“The vision for Memory Mondays is to provide an easy-access social opportunity that incorporates music, art, humor and movement into every program,” said Kristin Brett, one of the program founders. “Tips for healthy brains are shared, brain healthy recipes are handed out to participants and family care partners generally attend and participate in each session.”
One unique aspect of the Memory Mondays program is that its location is in a children’s museum. This feature became part of the program after the Brain Dames’ did some research. After a visit to the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, the trio was convinced of the fit between children’s programming and their own idea.
St. Petersburg’s Great Explorations Children’s Museum’s CEO, Angeline Howell has embraced the program with open arms.
“So many families are affected by Alzheimer’s Disease or other causes of memory loss, so it immediately made sense for us to be involved,” says Howell. “Currently, not a lot of children’s museums have programs for adults with memory loss, but the idea is catching on. Great Ex is happy to be on the forefront of what will hopefully become more prevalent in museums across the country.”
And so began the Brain Dames’ local initiative in the Tampa bay area.
“It has turned out to be terrific fit,” Brett explained. “Great Explorations provides a creative, fun environment; exceptional and professional staff support, and an intergenerational dimension not found in other area memory-related programs.”
With Great Explorations on board, the Brain Dames approached AARP Tampa Bay to become a sponsor to help spread the word and provide support to the program. Memory Mondays is also presented in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association Florida Gulf Coast Chapter. Other community partners support the program by providing skilled volunteers, sponsoring refreshments or facilitating curated activities and experiences for participants.
“I love going to Memory Mondays with my Mom,” Nancy said. “I hope that others with memory issues will join the program. It is a great way to spend time with your loved ones. Many thanks to Memory Mondays, AARP and Great Explorations for making this program available.”
Memory Mondays takes place the 1st Monday of the month from 10am-12pm at Great Explorations Children’s Museum at 1925 4th St. North in St. Petersburg.
Reservations are not required, but if you wish to register as an AARP member, visit http://bit.ly/2M4bizV
For more information about the program, contact Lael Arango, Director of Community Initiatives at larango@greatex.org or visit Great Explorations for details.
Facts about Alzheimer’s disease:
- Florida has the second highest incidence rate of Alzheimer’s disease in the nation – California ranks first.
- There are approximately 540,000 individuals currently living with Alzheimer’s Disease in Florida
- By 2025, it is estimated 720,000 individuals will be living with Alzheimer’s disease in Florida.
- There are approximately 1,121,000 unpaid caregivers in Florida that care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia.
This article was sponsored by AARP Tampa Bay.
