By Ruth Roberts, Napa Valley Register Correspondent
Whether she is training her dog Coco or guiding a group of school-age children through their first crochet stitches, Katie Donovan refuses to slow down.
At 74, the former Montessori teacher faces a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment, but she isn’t retreating. Once a week without fail, you’ll find her at the Napa Valley Adult Day program’s Mind Boosters class where seniors like Donovan are sharing experiences, maintaining brain health and garnering support.
Mind Boosters is a program designed for those experiencing early-stage memory loss, offered by Providence Community Health Foundation Napa Valley in conjunction with its Alzheimer’s Day Care Resource Center. Since 2009, the group has focused on maintaining brain health through education and activity. Led by a trained staff and dedicated volunteers, the 2 1/2-hour weekly program blends physical activity with sensory and mental exercises to boost brain health.
“I found the classes listed in the newspaper and decided it would be a good thing to look into,” said Donovan, who moved in with her sister and brother-in-law following her diagnosis two years ago. “It feels really good when everyone in the room is facing the same kinds of challenges and sharing ideas and thinking of new ways to overcome things. Everyone is so generous in sharing their personal experiences.”
Mind Boosters centers around the five pillars of brain health, including cognitive (thinking and memory), sensory (hearing and seeing), social-emotional (relating to others and managing emotions), behavioral (actions and conduct) and motor (physical movement). Each session begins with a social "meet and greet," followed by a review of take-home cognitive assignments and a "topic of the day" that uses sensory-based memory triggers such as olive oil tasting, for example, to engage participants.
The class also incorporates dual-tasking chair yoga, in which participants perform simple yoga stretches while counting backward to strengthen neural connections. Sessions conclude with interactive brain games and plenty of brain-healthy snacks. There are also weekly Spanish-speaking programs available.
“I think it’s a fun program, and I find that many people who come think they may not need this, but then they find the camaraderie, and they get skills to support their own journeys,” said Melissa Gerard, program manager of the Alzheimer's Day Care Resource Center. “It creates a sense of normalcy and community, which is so important.”
Classes are $40 a session, although there are scholarships available for those who can’t afford it, and program participants undergo an initial evaluation to assess their current quality of life.
“It’s really person-centered care,” said Gerard. “We are looking at who the person is now and what their needs are, so they can get the most out of the program.”
Indications that someone might be experiencing some cognitive decline include lapses in memory, such as forgetting names and places. Oftentimes, Gerard added, it can be a loss of interest in things they used to love, such as gardening, or sometimes it’s a diagnosis from a doctor.
The program also has indirect but equally important benefits, in that it offers a few hours of respite for weary caregivers and family members.
“Many people feel they are alone and a burden to their families,” Gerard said. “But one of the things we found is that this program unintentionally became respite for caregivers as well.”
For Donovan, Mind Boosters has been a welcome discovery.
“I really feel like the class always gives takeaways that are helpful for me in many ways, and I can bring them home and challenge my sister and brother-in-law,” laughed Donovan.
Mind Booster classes are partially underwritten by local donations and sponsorships made throughout the year. The program also has an annual fundraising event, Music and Memories.
This year's Music and Memories celebration is on Friday, Aug. 28 at Grgich Hills Estate, 1829 St. Helena Highway (Highway 29/128) in Rutherford. Chef Ken Frank of the renowned La Toque restaurant will cater the event. To learn more, visit foundation.providence.org/ca/napa.
Mind Boosters meets on Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the South Jefferson Health Center (formerly Collabria Care), 414 S. Jefferson St., Napa. Sessions are $40. To sign up, contact Melissa Gerard at 707-815-6258 or melissa.gerard@providence.org.
For more information about Mind Boosters, visit communityhealthnapavalley.org/mind-boosters.