Bored? Depressed? Lonely?
Aging doesn't have to mean feeling sad and isolated. MindSense® is a cognitive & social enrichment program that re-engages curiosity and creates joyful interactive experiences that improve health and well-being.
Cognitive Enrichment Program
MindSense® is a Cognitive Enrichment Program developed by Anne Sansevero RN, MA, GNP, CCM, Founder and CEO of HealthSense, an Aging Life Care company. With her gerontology and neurology nurse practitioner background, Anne is deeply familiar with cognitive challenges and the research that supports the benefits of social engagement to enhance brain health, memory and overall well being. However, cognitive enrichment is not a “one size fits all” solution. Effective cognitive enrichment strategies must be tailored not only to a client’s unique interests but also to their cognitive strengths and abilities across the continuum of brain health. Just as cognitive abilities change over time, so too must the strategies for engagement. The MindSense® program which Anne calls her “Joy Division” is based on a unique strengths based approach and assessment called the “Tree Stages®Model” . When matched with its easy to use evaluation tool, this enables a Cognitive Enrichment Specialist (CES) to easily assess a client’s ability to engage in programming along a continuum of their changing abilities. With this knowledge, the CES can confidently tailor activities and programs so that they are always meeting their clients needs and bringing them joyful engagement.
Tree Stages Model
Our MindSense Tree Stages® model is a unique part of our MindSense® cognitive and social enrichment program, guiding and educating cognitive enrichment specialists to tailor their engagement activities to best meet their clients' needs across a continuum of brain health.
OAK: Oak wood is strong, heavy and durable. Like an oak, I am strong minded, heavily independent, and physically durable. I thrive when presented with challenges and actively seek cognitive and social stimulation to increase longevity.
SPRUCE: Spruce trees have needles with four sides. The four most important things to me are: maintaining my independence, sticking to my familiar routines, feeling confident in what I am doing, & having respect from others. I may mask my changing abilities--if you don’t know me well, you may not even be able to tell! Don’t point out my changing abilities or strip me of my independence or you may get poked by my needles.
MAPLE: Maple trees have smooth bark when they are young, which transforms into a rough, corky bark as it ages. Similarly, I am transitioning from smooth moments of clarity, into cloudy rough moments of confusion & forgetfulness. I enjoy repeating activities that combine my interests & strengths. Hit that sweet spot and the syrup will flow!
BIRCH: A birch has smooth, white bark that slowly peels back in paper thin sheets. Like the smooth birch bark, I am no longer resistant and am surprisingly more open. I am becoming more fragile and will respond best to activities that are sensory focused. I am in the moment, and it’s more important to me how I feel during an activity than what we are actually doing. Don’t bog me down with details - I am more big picture oriented.
WILLOW: The willow tree has graceful arching branches that are supple and flexible like reeds, allowing small breezes to often set the entire tree in motion. Some days, I am very go with the flow, easy-breezy when it comes to engagement. Other days, my branches arch around me, secluding and inhibiting my ability to engage with the world around me.