MindStart - Keeping People with Dementia Engaged in Life

05/03/2024

How might you age gracefully?!

Start by feeling comfortable — even proud — of who, what and how old you are

11/24/2023

Check out our website for dementia appropriate activity products and Save 20% through Saturday!
Use code Fall23 (value kits excluded).

11/23/2023

Save your mini pumpkins for this colorful and fun project! Happy Thanksgiving!

11/17/2023

MindStart was glad to partner with Puzzler's Exchange, a non-profit organization that loans out different puzzles each month to local care centers that serve people with special health challenges.

They manage an inventory of over 4,000 puzzles, most of it through volunteer help! MindStart was able to help them serve a growing need for puzzles made specifically for people with dementia.

We are so thankful to Linda Matter and her team at Puzzler’s Exchange for bringing activity and joy through puzzles to the folks they serve!

10/13/2023

A late post for FTD (frontotemporal dementia) Awareness week… but we need more awareness for the “other dementias” every week. Take a listen to the wife of Bruce Willis,

Bruce Willis' wife Emma Herming Willis has opened up about her frustration over doctors' 'disrespectful' dementia comments

06/16/2023

Don’t ignore the early signs, find the evaluation and support that’s out there for both the person with memory loss and the caregiver.

Asking the same question, over and over again. It’s not called getting old, it’s called getting ill. If you or a loved one are experiencing memory loss, it c...

05/11/2023

This worker has do many creative ideas and obviously loves fostering joy and physical activity for the residents. All so perfect!

03/06/2023

What a beautiful story! ❤️

You could say love is in the air at St. Therese at Oxbow Lake in Brooklyn Park. Two seniors met at the campus, fell in love and tied the knot last month. “If...

02/15/2023

Despite dementia, this couples love endures - 58+ years and counting!

Laughter has been the through line for Diana and Andy Severson's love story, even when that one vow — in sickness and in health — became their reality.

01/26/2023

“She has to find the joy in whatever she does.” What a way to live, even into your 90’s! Meet the Bubble Lady! https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/kare11-extras/rochester-woman-phyllis-lokker-finds-joy-in-everything-she-does/89-1dcac65e-bcc2-40dd-bc7c-647cbb9322d7?fbclid=IwAR1SS-e0OtAl4M4GoRg1Vyw0v2ZEn3CCozaIyf1PwS1bVCPc81xu81yyW2w&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

Phyllis Lokker will forever be blowing bubbles.

01/12/2023

Love his enthusiasm and using simple supplies that are around for an activity. Share with us if you try one of these ideas! https://fb.watch/i04B4dOqOv/?mibextid=v7YzmG

01/10/2023

There are so many ways technology can help with caring for older adults. Check out some of these new items and how Seth Rogen is helping raise awareness for dementia prevention and care.

Seth Rogen and his wife Lauren Miller share groundbreaking new technology on display at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that aims to give at-home ...

12/12/2022

Wow, December may not be the time to tackle bad habits…I’m making cookies!!

BUT the things listed below are things you can do to improve your physical health - and PROTECT your cognitive health. This includes people with mild cognitive issues.

Which of these better habits will you tackle first in the new year?!

The truth is, dementia is a very big problem that’s becoming bigger every day.

What’s the link between Alzheimer’s and diabetes?

Well, new research shows insulin resistance, or what I call diabesity (from eating too many carbs and sugar and not enough fat) is one of the major factors that starts the brain-damage cascade, which robs the memory of over half the people in their 80s, leading to a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.

Here’s the bad news/good news.

Eating sugar and refined carbs can cause pre-dementia and dementia. But cutting out the sugar and refined carbs and adding lots of fat can prevent, and even reverse, pre-dementia and early dementia. Sugar causes pre-diabetes and diabetes, which often leads to significant memory loss.

Chronic stress takes a toll on your body and brain. Stress shrinks the hippocampus, the memory center of the brain. So, find your pause button every day and make time for some stress relief. Relaxation isn’t a luxury if you want to prevent or reverse dementia. Whether that involves deep breathing, meditation, or yoga, find something that helps you calm down.

Lack of sleep can cause impaired brain function, leading to CRAFT syndrome, which stands for “can’t remember a _____ thing.” Studies show poor sleep becomes a risk factor for cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. Aim for at least 8 hours of quality sleep every night.

We now know that physical activity can prevent and even slow down the progression of cognitive decline and brain diseases like dementia. Even a 30-minute walk can help. More active readers might want to incorporate high-intensity interval training or weight lifting.

12/05/2022

So true. Enjoy the precious moments and memories in the making with your elders this holiday season!

❤️💔❤️💔

09/06/2022

Get out there walking!!

A new study has a magic number (or three) of steps to use when out walking to cut your risk of dementia later in life.

08/30/2022

Isn’t this the best? Minnesota’s own Marjorie Johnson still baking and winning ribbons at just shy of 103 years young! Thanks for showing us how to live and age well, Marjorie!