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Brain
Stimulating Curriculum
With this
easy to use, ready to implement format you can
provide the Dementia Populations Gift of Purpose
through purposeful, brain stimulation exercises.
- Programs are
designed on three levels of
cognitive skills and abilities:
high, medium and low.
- Both verbal and
non verbal individuals may
participate.
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Reminiscence:
Participants may experience feelings of
being useful and needed as they respond
to an invitation to help others by sharing
their life experiences, wisdom and knowledge.
Confidence and self esteem are often elevated as
participants share things they have experienced
and learned during their lives. Delightful,
heartfelt stories make this brain exercise a
favorite among participants and their
caregivers.
Choices:
Participants may gain a sense of
control in their lives as they accept
the invitation to voice their choices and
opinions during this stimulating brain
exercise. This non intimidating exercise with no
right or wrong
answer provides the opportunity for participants
to share their compelling thoughts and personal
views regarding the Dementia Populations Gift of
Purpose topic. Everyone feels useful when others
ask their opinion on a particular subject.
Making choices propels the brain to reason, make
a decision or choice and share an opinion.
Personalities surface as each participant
expresses their point of view.
Which One?
Participants may gain a higher level of
confidence as they accept the invitation
to share their judgments and differences during
this stimulating brain exercise. This
exercise activates the .thinking process,
ignites ideas and rekindles memories.
Participants endearing responses creates a win,
win atmosphere for everyone involved.
Sensory:
Participants sense of self worth may be
enhanced as they accept the invitation
to help others identify sensory items related to
the Dementia Populations Gift of Purpose topic.
Participants senses are ignited as they see,
touch, feel and sometimes smell various sensory
items. The confidence with which participants
take charge during this brain stimulating
exercise of discovery often produces sweet,
joyous moments for everyone involved.
Socialization:
Participants may acquire a sense of
being needed and feeling useful as they
respond to the powerful, purpose approach of
being asked if they have time to help with the
brain stimulating puzzle project. This
inter-active brain exercise works skills such
as: sequencing skills, spatial skills, hand-eye
coordination and dexterity. This interactive
social experience reveals emotional joy and
happiness from participants as they get busy
living by helping others.
Drawing:
Giving and receiving gifts is a part of
everyone's life. This unsurpassed
"Purpose Approach" is designed to re-new that
glorious emotional feeling of giving to others.
Participants may experience the "gift of giving"
as they accept the invitation to create a
drawing and give it to someone. This brain
stimulating exercise ignites numerous brain
cells and works the participant's planning and
spatial skills as they replicate a drawing. Many
participants who no longer use language to
communicate may also reveal potential memory
deficits in their art drawings.
Creativity / Self Expression:
Confident participants often display a
willingness to accept the challenge of
drawing additional accents, shapes or objects in
their art work. Suggested, additional examples
are on page 34. Creative expression is often
revealed in art drawings when the participant
creates his or her own version of additional
shapes or objects in their drawing. Glimmers of
delight and hope are observed as participants
become engaged in this creative challenge.
Success:
As the effects of the brain exercises take
hold, participants soon look forward to helping
you with your projects. Success of the Dementia
Populations Gift of Purpose programs is achieved
when participants with joyful smiles
(non-verbal) and/or eager voices start asking if
they can help you.
Left side neglect
revealed in residents drawing below:
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Drawing Example |
Resident's Drawing |
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Potential Memory Deficits are
often revealed when residents participate in the
drawing component of the Dementia Populations
Gift of Purpose Programs.
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