Living an active lifestyle with your maturing mind

Maintaining an active lifestyle offers numerous brain health benefits. In an interview with Orange TV’s “Active Lifestyles” program, Stephanie Malally, a brain health clinical social worker at the AdventHealth Neuroscience Institute, spoke about the whole-person care and services provided through the Maturing Minds program and Memory Care Clinic.

For patients seeking to improve focus, memory and cognition, or who require advanced treatment and support for a memory disorder like Alzheimer’s Disease, the Maturing Minds program can assist with care-plan development, ongoing care for memory loss and connections to community resources for both the patient and caregiver. Through Maturing Minds, patients can also receive access to diagnostic assessments and ongoing guidance as their needs evolve.

Malally shared with Orange TV that additional resources include, “therapeutic components like caregiver support groups, exercise programs, music therapy and cognitive brain exercises that are free to the community and available virtually and in-person” to provide both patients and their caregivers with convenient access to whole-person care for their mind and memory.

Speaking of caregivers specifically, Malally added, “we do offer caregiver support every week via Zoom, and then of course with the social work, we are there to provide support for any issues that may arise, education that may be needed – I truly believe knowledge is power for caregivers and their self-care is also just as important as the care we provide our patients.”

AdventHealth’s memory care experts are also out in the community, helping support initiatives like the Dementia Care and Cure Initiative (DCCI). The goal of DCCI is to help raise community awareness to promote better care for patients living with dementia. As one of the few state-designated Memory Care Clinics in the nation, AdventHealth plays a critical role in expanding research and resources for those living with dementia – and to help find a cure.

“It is definitely a scary diagnosis for individuals and carries a stigma,” said Malally. “We often see patients and caregivers dealing with denial as a result of their diagnosis. Our resources help educate them and provide hope as they continue their health journey.”

To learn more about AdventHealth’s Maturing Minds and Memory Care Clinic, please visit the AdventHealth Neuroscience Institute here.