AccessSpring2016
P. 1

Becoming tech savvy
Pages 4 & 5
Your Link To Community Resources
Vol.18, No.1 A Publication of The Area Agency on Aging 1-B Spring 2016
Serving the counties of Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St.Clair and Washtenaw
Boost brain health with Mind Aerobics
Realize your dreams with the help of a life coach
At age 58, after spending most of her adult life employed as an administrative assistant, Washtenaw County resident Jeri Shumate decided to seek the services of a Life Coach.“Work was more about earning a paycheck than doing something meaningful,”Shumate said.“It always felt like I was supporting someone else’s agenda my whole life, rather than my own.”
An award-winning, evidence-based mind fitness program from Connecticut’s New England Cognitive Center (NECC) is being offered through Mind University at Jewish Family Service (JFS) of Metropolitan Detroit, in partnership with JVS. “Mind Aerobics” is an innovative 12-week cognitive exercise series designed to improve cognitive (mental) function for older adults without cognitive decline who want maintain an active brain, as well as individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
The Mind University program has four class levels: Mind Sharpener,
Lively Mind, Active Mind, and Ready Mind, which are held at various locations. Participants are screened to determine the level that offers the most engaging, yet challenging curriculum. Twice a week, a certified Mind Aerobics instructor leads a group of five to 12 participants in 60-minute sessions that target the following key cognitive skill areas:
• Memory: Activities geared to move information from short- to long-term memory
• Problem solving: Activities that require use of many parts of the brain
• Attentionandconcentration:Exercises to improve focus and memory
• Reactiontime:Targetsspeed,accuracy
Louise Hutcherson, participant, and Stacey Molinara, Mind Aerobics instructor. “I just love it,” Louise said. “I enjoy the challenges and have noticed a big difference from the first session until now.”
and automatic responses which may improve processing time and even play a role in fall prevention
• Visual/spatial relations: Activities focus on the participants’ relationship to their environment in order to increase awareness
• Language: Targets fluency, word retrieval and usage for improved communication and higher order
thinking continuedonpage2
Life coach and owner of Coach for Higher, Nan Reed Twiss, guided Shumate through a step-by-step program tailored to Shumate’s specific life goals. “Coaching is all about results,” said Twiss. “Clients work their way toward the life they want to live or the specific goal they want to achieve. It’s about making powerful life choices, taking effective action, and realizing your potential.”
With Twiss’s coaching, Shumate became the owner of a fitness club. “Now I’m my own boss, and finally
at age 61, I have the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives
by influencing them in affirming ways concerning their health,” Shumate noted. “I give Nan the credit in helping me obtain the courage to make those changes.”
Twiss received her Professional Certified Coach (PCC) certification through the International Coach Federation (ICF), the most recognized organization leading in the development of professional coaches since 1995. ICF coaches go through a rigorous, accreditation program in order to be certified.
“Step-by-step, a client works their way toward the life they want to live or the specific goal they want to achieve,” explained Coach for Higher owner Nan Reed Twiss. “It's about making powerful life choices, taking effective action, and realizing potential.”
An accredited coach’s responsibility is to:
• Discover, clarify and align with what the client wants to achieve
• Encourage client self-discovery
• Elicit client-generated solutions and
strategies
• Hold the client responsible and accountable
However, the title of “coach” should not be interpreted as a therapist, consultant,mentor,trainerorathletic
continued on page 2
Inside This Issue
How to Talk With a Parent About Aging and Life Adjustments..............3
Becoming Tech Savvy ................4 & 5 Ask the Expert ................................6 Oakland County News ......................7
Area Agency on Aging 1-B
29100 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 400 Southfield, MI 48034
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