ASA - American Society on Aging

2009 Awards Programs
Recognizing Excellence in the Field of Aging

Award Winners

2009 MindAlert Awards

Click here to view webcasts of the 2009 MindAlert Winning Programs

The ASA-MetLife Foundation MindAlert awards program was established to recognize innovation in mental fitness programming for older adults. These three awards recognize programs found in nonprofit organizations demonstrating innovation and effective application accessible to diverse communities based on research. Each shows potential for replication in other communities by ease of application and financial feasibility.

The Memory Academy

The Memory Academy is one woman’s vision of a sustainable, accessible and affordable educational program that empowers older adults to take positive action and control of their cognitive future. With the experience of 24 years teaching in Older Adult programs as well as being a Lifelong Learning Coordinator in the Adult Education system, Diana Nohr recognized a gap between knowledge and accessibility. Since the latest research suggests that there are many things we can do and change to promote a healthy brain and vital aging, shouldn’t that information be available and affordable to all those entering the second half of life? After four years of generous support and encouragement from Hayward, San Leandro, and Castro Valley Adult Schools and the California Council on Adult Education bridging that gap is now a reality.

Based on her own careful research into neuroscience, aging and memory and by valuing feedback from her students, Diana crafted a course curriculum that is now an exciting, comprehensive, and uplifting 12-week Adult Education program for seniors. Drawing upon the latest research, students understand what they need to do to stay strong, sharp and independent by enhancing their mental and physical fitness. Students learn about the changes that normally accompany age and with research-based lectures explore the causes of memory problems, brain functions and anatomy, the effects of stress, nutrition, and laughter plus discussions that incorporate the latest research on aging, Alzheimer’s and other dementias. With this newly acquired knowledge that a healthy aging brain requires regular challenges, the Academy provides group and individual activities ranging from Sudoku to juggling, that challenge minds by engaging and working all parts of the brain as well as physical activities for the aging body.

What’s next: Diana Nohr continues to teach, adding Advanced Memory Academy, and Master’s Memory Academy classes and expanding the program to other communities through its new Teacher Training Program that will enable colleagues to introduce the program to other school districts, student populations, and institutional settings.

Gerontechnology Consortium of Westchester

Several New York organizations including Pace University, Westchester Community College, United Hebrew Geriatric Center (UHGC), Westchester County Department of Senior Programs Services through the Westchester Alliance Program, and Fordham University form a timely and innovative multi-faceted gerontechnology research collaboration. One facet of this collaboration creatively connects older adults to technology through civic engagement in an intergenerational environment. Specially trained undergraduates assist senior citizens to overcome technology fears through a series of one-on-one paired personal contacts, assistive software, and various technologies.Students instruct seniors living in UHGC residences including independent living, assisted living, and the nursing home.

Empowered older adults not only are learning new skills, but keeping mentally stimulated. These skills include developing psychomotor skills, maneuvering the Internet, e-mail as a new means of communication with family and friends, and creating photo greeting cards. In addition to computer skills, seniors benefit from bonding relationships with students as well as enhanced mental fitness and increased cognitive functioning.

The project goes beyond students simply “volunteering” to help. The unique gerontechnology course teaches undergraduates the aging process, skills in instructing the elderly, and computing technology while the older adults benefit from an individualized and non-threatening learning environment. . Additionally, students are exposed to potential gerontological field related career opportunities and demonstrate improved perception toward the aged.

The primary program objective includes improving the quality of life emotionally, cognitively and socially of elderly. Nursing staff observations and pre-/post- instrument preliminary research data show adoption of technology improves emotional, cognitive, and social well-being for the seniors as well as an increased independence. UHGC nursing staff reports seniors fell more purposeful with increased self-confidence. Some elderly are also encouraged by being capable of learning a new skill after a debilitating illness. Overall, the seniors feel more in sync with the world at-large and not “left behind”.

Performing Arts at University of Delaware Academy of Lifelong Learning

The University of Delaware’s Academy of Lifelong Learning offers opportunities for older adults to express themselves, build cognitive reserve, and form social connections through an expansive Performing Arts program that is integrated into the academic curriculum. A desire to participate is the only prerequisite. Registrations in Performing Arts courses have grown to 1,216 in fall 2008.

Recent research has demonstrated that experiences gained from Performing Arts are particularly important for stimulating brains, promoting good health and increasing social interactions. Learning in the arts has power to touch emotions as well as stimulate many parts of the brain. As part of education, performance shares the experience and motivates learning.

From beginner to advanced, multiple levels are offered for singing, playing an instrument, folk dancing, and educated listening. Musical tastes are honored through experiences with folk, classical, jazz, rock, Latin jazz, musicals, and opera. The Performing Arts program has grown from nine courses in 2000 to 33 courses. The Academy program welcomes beginners with courses in recorder, band and violin. Intermediate level courses are offered for those playing again after a hiatus of 40 or 50 years. Academy Band has grown to 78 members, Chorus (SATB) to 65 members and Orchestra to 22 members. Circle Singers enjoy folk music. Chamber Choir explores American music. Members in drama courses enjoy performing and sometimes writing new words to familiar melodies or original skits.

The Academy of Lifelong Learning (www.academy.udel.edu) has offered extensive opportunities for mental stimulation and social interaction since the program began in 1980. Growing from an initial fourteen courses, the current semester offers 220 courses on a wide variety of topics, all taught by volunteer instructors, to 2,100 members age 50 and over. Over 700 members volunteer in a variety of capacities. Membership also includes travel and additional cultural and educational opportunities.

Stagebridge

Founded in 1978, Stagebridge is the oldest senior theatre in the nation and the only professional theatre training company for older adults on the West Coast. Managed by a small professional staff, including the founding director, the company is composed of approximately 150 actors and storytellers who average 70 years of age. The National Endowment for the Arts recently honored Stagebridge as a model program for “Best Practices” in the field of Creativity and Aging.

Stagebridge’s programs advance their mission - - to make the performing arts an opportunity for older adults to entertain, educate, share experiences with younger generations and change the way people think about growing old. Stagebridge has created and produced more than 30 plays about aging and toured them to 300,000 individuals in senior centers, schools, nursing homes, libraries and theatres throughout the Bay Area. Numerous Stagebridge actors have appeared in film and television productions. A pioneer in the field of healthy aging, Stagebridge created the award winning “See Me!” program to train medical professionals to see older adults with more respect. The company’s “Storybridge” program is a nationally acclaimed model for bringing older adults as storytellers into schools to mentor children. Stagebridge has performed for national and international conferences, appeared at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and in international theatre venues.

The Performing Arts Training Program (PATI) provides a curriculum of training in the wide range of performing arts classes (acting, storytelling, playwriting, dance, improv, singing). Weekly classes meet at the Stagebridge home in downtown Oakland and are taught by noted professional actors, directors, and storytellers. Students enroll in various courses of training and receive diplomas at the end of their study. PATI also trains older professional artists to teach performing arts classes throughout the Bay Area senior community, thereby spreading the opportunities for older adults to participate.

MindAlert Awards Review Committee
ASA wishes to thank the committee who dedicated their time in reviewing the applications:

Dean Blevins (Chair), North Little Rock, AR; Jo Arnold, Portage, MI; Barbara Ginsberg, Brooklyn, NY; James E Birren, Pacific Palisades, CA; Ruth Flexman, Wilmington, DE; James Frasier, Petersburg FL; Pamela Huff, Portland, OR; Darby Morhardt, Chicago, IL; Cheryl Svensson, Corona del Mar, CA; Sharon Sokoloff, Waltham, MA; Robyn Yale, San Francisco, CA