Minds in Motion keeps people healthy for longer

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This article was published 1/10/2018 (293 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

 

The lives of Lucy and George Beckta changed years ago after a diagnosis that determined George had vascular dementia.

 

"It takes a village to raise a person with dementia," Lucy stated. "It’s a new experience."

Lucy was thankful when her daughter, who lives in Ontario, called her and told about the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba Minds in Motion program, an eight-week program that helps people with early to moderate dementia through exercise, socialization, and cognitive activities. 

"For us, it’s been huge. As long as George is high functioning enough we will keep going," she said.

"The caregiver can’t do it all on their own. It’s huge when the Alzheimer Society puts programs in place because it keeps people out of hospitals, it keeps people out of nursing homes, for as long as you possibly can."

Vascular dementia can be developed after a stroke blocks an artery in the brain. George’s journey with the disease started with high blood pressure when he was 55 and with his first transient ischemic attack, a small stroke, when he was 63. Since then he’s had a series of TIAs, and with each one, blood is cut off to the brain, affecting not just memory, but cognition and judgment. 

Now, 78-year-old George’s symptoms have plateaued, and that is partly thanks to the activities at Minds in Motion and Lucy’s help in encouraging him to be as active as possible both at home and at the programs he attends. 

"There are certain things that Lucy expects me to do. I handle all the cleaning of the kitchen and the washing of the dishes, I make my own bed, I fold my laundry, I get dressed, and I do my personal stuff, and it works out well," he said.

George was a plumber and owned a plumbing company in Elmwood before he sold his business to become a clown and help raise money for CancerCare Manitoba Foundation. When he was diagnosed with dementia, they had to adjust part of their life.

"It’s not the end of your life, it’s just a different life, and you really and truly have to have other programs to support you in this because without it you have people sitting in old age homes, drugged, catatonic, just sitting. We look forward to Minds in Motion," Lucy said.

The program has provided a community of friends and supports for people like Lucy and George.

Minds in Motion combines physical activity, socialization and mental stimulation for people with dementia who attend with a family member or caretaker. The program is designed to unite families and communities, and while there isn’t a cure for Alzheimer and dementia, the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba’s website cites research stating that combining physical activity with mental and social stimulation can slow the disease progression. 

The participants enjoy an exercise session led by a certified fitness professional, which Lucy said is very intense, a coffee break with some snacks, and mentally and socially stimulating games such as puzzles. The Alzheimer Society of Manitoba recently announced it is expanding the program to several other locations.

"People are responding very positively to the inclusive community programming," Kathy Diehl Cyr, program manager of Minds in Motion, said. "The fact that we are expanding really shows how beneficial and necessary this program is." 

The Wellness Institute (1075 Leila Ave.) will be hosting the Minds in Motion program from Oct. 17 to Dec. 5, every Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. Registration fee is $65 per pair and people are asked to call the Wellness Institute at 204-632-3900 to register for the program. 

"Minds in Motion is promoting that whole body stimulation so that you keep as active as you can for as long as you can," Lucy said. "For George, the trick is to avert another TIA."

Visit alzheimer.mb.ca/mindsinmotion for more information.