Keep your smarts with brain training exercises

Teri Sellers

The next meeting of the Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group is June 15.

In the same way that we have choices in activities that strengthen our bodies with exercise, we have an opportunity in June to experience new ways to exercise our brain. Come and experience brain exercises that you can do in a group and also do at home with family and friends.

Let me introduce myself. I am Keli Price and I love teaching seniors how to keep their brains active. I have seen such exciting, encouraging results when people exercise their brains. There are frightening statistics about the projected number of people who will have Alzheimer’s by 2025 and 2030. But there is also new medical knowledge about what activities make a difference when you invite the brain to participate in specific mental tasks. These tasks will increase focus, attention, memory and problem solving.

My professional background began as a Research Chemist. I’ve also taught math and sciences for decades; I was fascinated by how there were activities to actually open up the mind and help students succeed in chemistry, biology and math. As a tutor to nurses, EMT’s and high school students, I teach these exercises to my clients so they can better understand the hard concepts I’m about to lay before them. As a brain trainer, I see that many of these activities are highly beneficial to seniors.

In 2010 I went back to school to become a nurse. I cared for patients on the Africa Mercy Hospital ship in Lome, Togo and also spent two years in Zambia practicing rural health and teaching science and mathematics. Since my parents live in Sun Village, after my years in Africa I moved to Surprise to be near my parents. I taught math and science for a couple of years and then decided to venture full time into Brain Training, teaching seniors and parents how to exercise their mind! In 2017, I became certified as an Amen Clinics Brain Coach. I teach workshops and classes at RISE Rio Salado, Grand Learning, PORA, Explore and to churches. I have created a book of five brain activities and seven exercises called A Stroke of Genius.

When you learn to exercise your brain and keep up the skills, you can prolong your cognition, prolong your independence and save money that could be going into memory care. What if you could save the expense of even one year of memory care? Hopefully, you can preserve your independence even longer.

In our workshop we will learn some balance and fun, interactive exercises that make our brain think! These are not sudoku and crossword puzzle kinds of exercises. These are whole brain exercises, all with research and science backing them, for after all, I was a research chemist and so research is important to me.

As a caregiver, you will find brain training exercises help you reduce stress and keep your own mind sharp. Working with your loved one or client, you will learn some new activities that are fun to do together and that can be easily adapted to different levels of cognition. The activities stimulate the mind and many people find that conversation and thinking are improved even if for a short window of time after doing the exercises.

Come in comfortable shoes for we will also do some balance exercises that are good for the brain.

Respite Care

We may be able to provide free respite care for those with Alzheimer’s/Dementia during the caregiver meeting. This will allow the caregiver the opportunity and peace of mind to attend the discussion group. Please call me with your RSVP no later than Tuesday, June 12.

Monthly Breakfast

A more casual opportunity to meet and share with other caregivers is the first Saturday of each month. We will meet at Eagle’s Nest for breakfast and ‘just talk.’ Getting to know other caregivers can be very supportive and helpful as the journey of this disease can be challenging. RSVP is required by May 29 for the June 1 breakfast. For information or to RSVP for respite care or the breakfast, please call Teri Sellers at 602-793-0299 or email [email protected].