News - June 15, 2022

CONTACT:  Emily Chavez | 407-718-6609 | emily.chavez@finnpartners.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Leading Senior Living and Services Organization Announces Innovative Brain Health Programming for Older Adults during Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month

Goodwin Living™ to Host Chorale Arts Events, Pickleball Competition and Brain Health Expos in Northern Virginia

Alexandria, VA – Yesterday, Goodwin Living™ launched a variety of brain health programs, activities and initiatives during June in recognition of Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 150,000 Virginians currently live with Alzheimer’s, and that number is projected to grow by more than 26.7% by 2025. Over the past two years, Goodwin Living has expanded its strategic approach to brain health care to focus on preventative care and non-pharmaceutical solutions for older adults living with mild cognitive impairment.

“Over time, we began to recognize not only the need for access to care for older adults with dementia or Alzheimer’s, but the importance of trying to delay the need for care,” said Rob Liebreich, President and CEO of Goodwin Living. “Goodwin Living’s brain health programs during Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month are important and inclusive steps to help older adults engage in fun and effective activities to sustain their cognitive health.”

In support of Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, Goodwin Living is offering events and programming for residents of its Life Plan Communities and Goodwin Living At Home members. These events include:

• Brain Health Expos: Goodwin Living hosted its first brain health expo today at Goodwin House Alexandria (GHA), with another on June 16 at Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads (GHBC). The expos will feature representatives for the Alzheimer’s Association and Insight Memory Care, and offer residents of GHA and GHBC and Goodwin Living At Home members with the opportunity to explore the internal and community resources available to support restorative brain care.
• Longest Day Pickleball Marathon – Goodwin Living will be hosting a Pickleball Marathon as part of the Alzheimer’s Associations “Longest Day” fundraising efforts on June 21 at its Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads (GHBC) location. Senior Olympics Pickleball Gold Medalist Judy Aw from Falls Church, Va. will be attending the event and speaking to participants. The event will support the Alzheimer’s Association’s initiatives in expanding access to cognitive and dementia care.
• Melody Makers: Partnering with Encore Creativity, Goodwin Living is launching the “Melody Makers,” a brain health chorale, this month. The new program is geared to older adults with moderate and mild-stage dementia and with significant brain change. Goodwin Living is the first senior living community to partner with Encore Creativity for Melody Makers, and the 8-week pilot program will be offered as weekly classes for residents at Goodwin House Alexandria and Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads.

“We are excited to offer a variety of events and programs that promote brain health this month as we continue to find ways to support the brain health needs of all older adults,” said Jessica Fredericksen, Brain Health Manager at Goodwin Living. “We believe whole heartedly that given accessible resources and support systems, older adults can enjoy long and fulfilling lives.”

Goodwin Living is recognized as one of two senior living organizations in the Commonwealth of Virginia that has trained every employee to be a Dementia Friend. Nearly 1,000 Goodwin Living team members have completed in-person or online training sessions to become Dementia Friends.

Earlier this year, Goodwin Living launched a partnership with the Maryland Department of Aging to share its innovative brain health program, StrongerMemory, with older adults across the state. The program is currently being implemented in senior centers in Baltimore, Charles, Calvert, Cecil, Wicomico, St. Mary’s and Worcester counties. StrongerMemory also has an existing partnership with the Village to Village network, a national membership-driven organization that brings Villages together to provide support and care for 40,000 older adults.

The StrongerMemory program material (English and Spanish versions) is available at no cost to anyone that wishes to obtain it and has been made possible through donations to the Goodwin Living Foundation. The program material can be downloaded directly from the Goodwin Living website at https://goodwinliving.org/stronger-memory/.

For more information on Goodwin Living’s brain health programming and initiatives, visit www.GoodwinLiving.org.

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About Goodwin Living™: Goodwin Living™ touches the lives of thousands of people every day through its range of senior living communities, specialized healthcare services, community partnerships and philanthropic endeavors. With a mission to support, honor and uplift the lives of others (specifically older adults and those who care for them), Goodwin Living leads the way in expanding the places and ways we can all thrive and find purpose as we age. Older adults will discover options that meet them where they want to be, and those options are managed and provided by team members who represent more than 60 countries. Goodwin Living is a Washington Post Top Workplace for four consecutive years, from 2019 to 2022. Get more information at GoodwinLiving.org or by following Goodwin Living on Facebook and LinkedIn.