Fit Minds Interact Individual
Program and TBI
Using Cognitive Coaching for Impact
Caring. Connected. Inspired.™
Presentation Overview
• Brain Science Primer
• Cognitive Stimulation Therapy Review
• Coach Approach
• Five Key Areas of Cognition
• Fit Minds Program Overview
• Putting It Into Practice
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What We Exercise Gets Stronger
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Neuroscience Basics
• Brain plasticity
• Synaptic density and
pruning
• Cognitive resilience
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Brain Plasticity
The brain has the capacity for continuous:
• physical
• chemical
• functional brain change
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Synaptic Density and Pruning
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Research Proves We Can Grow Our Brains
Medical students –
University of Hamburg
Gray Matter (the actual size of their
brains) grew in a six week period!
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Cognitive Resilience
Learning - New and Challenging
Other Factors
• Physical Activity
• Good Nutrition
• Social Stimulation
• Meditation/Prayer
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Cognitive Resilience and Trauma
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Cognitive Resilience and Disease
Sister Bernadette
• Died at 85 of a massive heart attack
• MRI scores - high amount of grey
matter
• High mental scores
Autopsy of her brain....
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Cognitive Resilience and Disease
She had advanced Alzheimer’s
(BRAACK Stage 6)
She had NO symptoms
46% risk reduction
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Research Supports the Efficacy of CST
• As effective as several dementia drugs
• Increases quality of life for clients
• Reduces stress for caregivers
• Plays important role in delaying disease progression
• The UK National Institute for Health and Care
Excellence (NICE) mandates CST for individuals with
mild to moderate dementia
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NICE Guideline 42
“People with mild / moderate dementia of all
types should be given the opportunity to
participate in a structured group cognitive
stimulation programme. This should be
commissioned and provided by a range of health
and social care workers with training and
supervision. This should be delivered irrespective
of any anti-dementia drug received by the
person with dementia”.
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Coach Approach™
Coach Approach™
• Emotional support
• Understanding
affection
• Personal concern
Emotional memory
Coach Approach™
Coach Approach™
• One thing at a time
• Short, understandable, consumable
• Processing time – patience
Coach Approach™
Coach Approach™
• Agitation and anxiety
• Sufficient physical and mental activity
• Pleasantly tired
Coach Approach™
5 Key Areas of Cognition
• Language and Music
• Visual/Spatial Orientation
• Memory – Working & Long Term
• Critical Thinking
• Computation
Global Is Best
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Language and Music
• Speech Perception
• Semantic Association
• Speech Production
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What Does This Mean?
• Rhyming and Rhythm Exercises =
Speech Recognition
• Word Matching = Semantic Association
• Word Puzzles = Speech Production
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Time to Exercise Language
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Visual/Spatial Orientation
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Visual/Spatial Orientation
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Time to Exercise Visual Spatial
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Memory
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Working Memory
Core Executive Functions
Reasoning and Decision-making
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Time to Exercise Memory
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Critical Thinking
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Time to Exercise Critical Thinking
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Computation
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Time to Exercise Computation
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Fit Mind Interact Individual
• Most beneficial program
• Promotes brain health in both healthy people and people with
dementia
• Tailored to individual’s level of cognition across five key areas
• Each session includes activities across all five areas of cognition
pulled from a database of 2500+ exercises.
• Delivered one-on-one by certified cognition coaches
• Provides a positive environment that adds structure and mental
and physical stimulation
• Builds confidence through meaningful engagement
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Observed Benefits
• Improved ability to communicate with others within the
community
• Improved desire to engage
• Improved mood and reduction in anxiety
• Reduction in challenging behaviours
• Improved cognition - MoCA and MMSE scores improved
• Improved quality of life – QoL scores improve
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Core Values: What We Believe at Fit Minds
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While dementia changes relationships, it doesn’t end them. Mom is still mom. Dad is
still dad. Individuals challenged by dementia still want and need human interaction.
That is why our programs focus on supporting those relationships.
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We should have an attitude of gratitude towards our seniors. The individuals who
went before us, built the society we now enjoy. We owe them a debt of gratitude.
•
We have a responsibility to support all people to age with dignity. With age comes
vulnerability. We deal with a body that is less strong than it was at twenty. A mind
that may be a little slower. We need a little more support. However, we are
still adults. That is why our programs our not ‘childish’ but focus on adult ideas and
topics.
•
Life can be full of joy – no matter how old we are. Life should be joyful and filled with
love.. Our programs aim at fostering a sense of fun.
•
As we age, we still care about connecting with other people. Everyone has a
fundamental need to connect. That need impacts our mental health. Strong social
networks help us age well. Our programs encourage building and maintaining these
networks.
•
We believe in drowning the evil of loneliness, isolation and despair in the abundant
goodness of caring and connecting. That is what motivates us each and every day.
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Thank You
Nicole Scheidl
[email protected]
www.FitMinds.ca
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