Salt Lake County Aging and Adult Services Launches Brain Health Program for Older Adults

StrongerMemory Designed to Alleviate Symptoms of Mild Cognitive Impairment

Salt Lake County – Salt Lake County Aging & Adult Services (AAS) is now offering an innovative brain health program to older adults in Salt Lake County. AAS has launched the StrongerMemory program for older adults through a partnership with Goodwin Living (GL), a senior living and healthcare services organization in Northern Virginia and the National Capital Region.

Designed to help older adults alleviate symptoms of mild cognitive impairment and early-stage dementia, StrongerMemory was created by GL President and CEO Rob Liebreich in 2011 after observing his mother’s challenges with mild cognitive impairment. The proven curriculum, which was implemented for GL residents and members in 2020, consists of simple activities practiced daily to engage the working memory and trigger brain activity in the prefrontal cortex. Research indicates that participants who spend 20 to 30 minutes a day engaged in simple reading, writing and math activities can experience stabilized or improved cognitive functions.

“I am really pleased that we are now able to offer the StrongerMemory program because so many older adults can really benefit from this evidence-based approach to brain health,” said Paul Leggett, Division Director of Salt Lake County Aging & Adult Services.

“We are honored to launch the StrongerMemory program in partnership with Salt Lake County,” said Liebreich. “Sharing my mother’s story and watching the program unfold to help older adults at Goodwin Living Life Plan Communities and Goodwin Living at Home combat the impact of dementia has been rewarding. I look forward to working with Salt Lake County to extend the reach of StrongerMemory as we help older adults access and experience the benefits of the program.”

According to the Utah Alzheimer’s Association, 38,000 people aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's in Utah. In Utah, 9.9% of those aged 45 and over report they are experiencing confusion or memory loss that is happening more often or is getting worse (“subjective cognitive decline”). More than half of them have not talked to a health care professional about it. For those with worsening memory problems, 41.2% say it has created “functional difficulties” — that is, caused them to give up day-to-day activities and/or interfered with work or social activities.

Adults over sixty who live in Salt Lake County can contact Aging & Adult Services to access StrongerMemory classes. The StrongerMemory program material, which is available at no cost to anyone that wishes to obtain it, has been made possible through donations to the Goodwin Living Foundation. The program material can be downloaded directly from the Goodwin Living website at StrongerMemory.org.

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Aging & Adult Services is a Division of Salt Lake County Human Services that promotes independence for older adults through advocacy, engagement, and access to resources. Visit www.slco.org/aging or call (385) 468-3200 to access services. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @slcoaging.

About Goodwin Living: Celebrating 54 years of providing exceptional service to older adults, Goodwin Living (GL) is a not-for-profit, Virginia-based corporation affiliated with the Episcopal Church.