by Jessica Fredericksen
Every September 21, the world stops—just for a moment—to recognize those living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. World Alzheimer’s Day was launched in 1994 by Alzheimer’s Disease International in Edinburgh. The day is a global invitation to learn, empathize, share and act—because awareness leads to understanding, and understanding to better care.
At Goodwin Living, we also celebrate a beacon of hope: StrongerMemory, a simple yet powerful program proven to build connections and nurture brain health for older adults.
Thanks to a grant from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program (CMP), StrongerMemory has been implemented in skilled nursing communities across the Commonwealth at no cost to the resident or campus. And the results speak for themselves.
- 91 nursing facilities implemented StrongerMemory.
- 862 residents participated in the program.
- Nursing home staff reported that 76% of participants maintained or improved their cognitive functioning.
- More than half of the facilities committed to continuing StrongerMemory after the initial 12-week sessions.
These numbers are more than data points. They demonstrate that with the right tools, older adults can strengthen brain health, reconnect with family and friends and re-engage with the world around them. What emerged from this initiative is nothing short of inspiring. Older adults are reading, writing and engaging again, rebuilding confidence in themselves.
Stories of StrongerMemory Transformation
The true impact of StrongerMemory shines in the personal stories from our partner communities:
- At Covenant Woods, residents embraced StrongerMemory so enthusiastically it made the news, reminding everyone how brain health can blossom at any age.
- At The Virginia Home, a group known as “The Brainiacs” formed—friends encouraging each other to stick with StrongerMemory and celebrating their progress together.
- At King’s Grant, one participant now leaves her room regularly for StrongerMemory sessions. Her husband joins her too, turning the program into a shared journey.
- At Bland County Nursing & Rehab, we met Eugene*, whose determination to engage with StrongerMemory inspired both team members and fellow residents.
- At Amelia Rehab & Healthcare Center, residents read a novel aloud together as part of their daily StrongerMemory exercises. They then watched the movie adaptation, proving how StrongerMemory opens the door to meaningful engagement. All residents and their families were invited to attend the movie screening, and participants in the StrongerMemory group were honored on the red carpet as an acknowledgement of their achievement.
- At Tate Springs, StrongerMemory became so popular that team members moved the sessions to the afternoon, “because the party is just getting started then!”
World Alzheimer’s Day was created to raise awareness, reduce stigma and remind the world that those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia deserve dignity, connection and hope. That mission is exactly why we are lifting up StrongerMemory today, because it brings these values to life every single day.
Take Mrs. M.* at Bon Secours Southampton, for example. For years, she hadn’t written anything by hand. But through StrongerMemory, she picked up a pen again. At first it was shaky letters, then words, then sentences. The pride in her smile and excitement of the nursing team said everything. This wasn’t just handwriting practice. This was reclaiming a piece of herself and reconnecting with her voice in a way they thought was gone forever.
That is the heart of World Alzheimer’s Day and of the StrongerMemory program. World Alzheimer’s Day challenges us to look beyond loss and see possibility. StrongerMemory proves this possibility is real. It shows up in daily pages written, in books read aloud, in conversations sparked, in spouses and friends gathering to share the journey.
On this World Alzheimer’s Day, we celebrate the global call for awareness, and we celebrate StrongerMemory as the answer in action. We’re reminded that while Alzheimer’s may change the path, it does not erase the capacity for growth, connection or joy.
Join Us in Building StrongerMemory
World Alzheimer’s Day reminds us that awareness is only the beginning. Change happens when awareness becomes action. Now, we invite you to be part of this movement:
- Share this story with friends, family, and colleagues to spread awareness.
- Bring StrongerMemory to your community, senior living center, or local organization. The program is simple, affordable and effective.
- Support brain health by volunteering, partnering or exploring how your organization can join the work.
StrongerMemory has shown us—through data, through stories and through smiles like Mrs. M.’s—that brain health can be strengthened, and dignity, connection and joy can be restored.
Alzheimer’s and dementia touch millions of lives—but so can hope. Together, we can create a world where memory loss does not mean the loss of meaning, connection or possibility.
World Alzheimer’s Day is once a year. StrongerMemory can be every day.
Explore how StrongerMemory can make a difference in your life or your community by visiting StrongerMemory.org
*Names have been altered to respect and protect personal privacy.
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Goodwin Living Director of Brain Health Jessica Fredericksen, CDP, MSW, RCAL, joined Goodwin Living in early 2021 as Brain Health Program Manager. She is focused on advancing brain health and dementia awareness through education, the StrongerMemory program and serving on the Dementia Advance Team. Jessica is a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) with a Masters in Gerontological Social Work (MSW) from Washington University in St. Louis. Before joining Goodwin Living, she worked for an Assisted Living & Memory Care company in the Midwest where she gained experience as an Executive Director and Corporate Director of Community Excellence. When she’s not focused on brain health, Jessica enjoys volunteering with her church’s Youth Group and taking hikes with her cockapoo, Chloe Rose.
