Article Text

A free brain-health program that has drawn strong participation at Fairfax County senior centers is heading to local libraries, beginning with a pilot this fall at Dolley Madison Library in McLean.

The Goodwin Living Foundation’s StrongerMemory initiative offers 30-minute cognitive exercise sessions four to five times a week over 12 weeks. Participants can join in person or use online materials.

The program started as a pilot at two Fairfax senior centers and now operates at 14. In-person groups typically attract 10 to 15 participants at each location, while the Lincolnia Senior Center has nearly 40 regular participants.

Jessica Fredericksen, senior director of Goodwin Brain Health, described the initiative as a clear success during the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ Older Adults Committee meeting on Tuesday, June 2.

“Seniors are engaged. They want to come to this,” Fredericksen said.

Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik said the program demonstrates the value of partnerships between the county and outside organizations.

“Not everything has to be created by the county. I really love that this is coming from Goodwin,” she said.

Under the library expansion plan, Dolley Madison Library will host the first group as a pilot. Other Fairfax County Public Library branches will provide dedicated spaces for materials promoting the program.

StrongerMemory’s online resources are available in English, Spanish, simplified and traditional Chinese, Amharic, Farsi, Korean and Japanese. Participants can also download a workbook containing lesson plans for as many as five days per week.

Palchik expressed hope that in-person sessions eventually will be offered in multiple languages. Other supervisors encouraged organizers to add movement activities because of their connection to improved cognitive abilities.

“The exercise part of this is critical,” Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck said.

Fredericksen agreed, calling movement “the best thing you can do for brain health.” She said StrongerMemory can serve as an entry point for older adults interested in additional services.

“Giving our seniors the tools they can grow with is important,” Mason District Supervisor Andres Jimenez said.

The discussion was included in an update on Fairfax County’s SHAPE the Future of Aging initiative and its 2023-28 aging plan. SHAPE focuses on services for older adults and family caregivers, housing and neighborhood support, mobility access, personal well-being, and economic stability and planning.

Now in its third year, the action plan is working to challenge ageism while increasing inclusion and acceptance of aging adults, according to Beth Ann Margetta, assistant program manager for the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging.

“It’s really making a difference,” said Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn, chair of the Older Adults Committee.