Memory and Brain Fitness: Older Adult Perspectives

The Impact Theme series: Longevity Explorers Discuss.

The spectre of memory loss looms over us all as we age.

Our Longevity Explorers are always interested in new ideas regarding brain fitness, and you can hear the discussions below.

Hear what Older Adults Think: Memory and Brain Fitness

Ideas for Music Source for Memory Care Person

By: K. Befu

Thanks always for the newsletter which I find very interesting.

My husband now lives at the Memory care unit at the CCRC where I live. He loves classic music but that’s one kind of music they do not play in that section of the CCRC.

My hope is to provide the classic music in his... Read More. Add your Opinions

Dementia & Cognition Tech: Join the Discussion

By: tel-editors

Our explorers are discussing tech to help care for people with cognition issues. Join the discussion. Share your insights in the comments.

Do you have experience with a useful product, or a "problem that needs solving" — relating to dementia or mild cognitive impairment... Read More. Add your Opinions

AI and Cognitive Assistance

This circle met to see a demo by one of the explorers of the Amazon Astro Robot, and to explore the intersection of AI and cognitive impairment.

Listen to: "AI and Cognitive Assistance"

Joy for All Robot Pets @ Passavant

The Passavant Longevity Explorers evaluate "robot pets".

Listen to: "Joy for All Robot Pets @ Passavant"

Robin Day Clock @ Passavant

The Passavant Longevity Explorers evaluate a day clock designed for seniors with memory loss.

Listen to: "Robin Day Clock @ Passavant"

Nocturnal Wandering by Dementia Patient

For those of us caring for a loved one with dementia, nocturnal bed exits can be an overwhelming problem. The problem gets even worse if the person with dementia leaves the house at night without anyone knowing.

Read: "Nocturnal Wandering by Dementia Patient"

Dementia: Not Recognizing Spouse or Family

An especially upsetting symptom of the later stages of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia is when the person with dementia does not recognize a spouse or other family member any more.

We are seeking solutions that can help put off the time at which these symptoms start to manifest...

Read: "Dementia: Not Recognizing Spouse or Family"

Dementia and Cognition: Tech Solutions

The Saratoga group is asked to tell about cognition challenges of aging they have observed that need fixing and to suggest some possible solutions.

Listen to: "Dementia and Cognition: Tech Solutions "

Brain Health @ SRC

Strategies to maintain brain health vary from member to member, and each has an individual approach.

Listen to: "Brain Health @ SRC"

Dementia Patient Wanders (Living at Home)

Your loved one tends to wander out of the yard when you aren’t looking. She has dementia, and you worry she will get lost.

Although you could get an elderly GPS tracker, they may refuse to wear it, and cell coverage in your area might not be reliable.

Read: "Dementia Patient Wanders (Living at Home)"

What Time Is It? Dementia Confusion

My Dad is now in a nursing home, and he can't tell the difference between 4 AM and 4 PM when looking at a clock. When he asks his Voice Assistant, and it says, "It's 4 AM", he thinks it said "4 PM," and he better get dressed for dinner!

Read: "What Time Is It? Dementia Confusion"

Lost the TV Remote?

Who is not familar with this experience?

It's time to watch TV. Where did you put the remote control for the TV?

Read: "Lost the TV Remote?"

Parent Keeps "Losing" Their Phone?

Your loved one is frequently misplacing their smartphone while at home.

Many people misplace their phones, but if your loved one has mobility issues or cognitive decline, it’s even more frequent. Wouldn’t it be nice to offer your loved one a solution?

Read: "Parent Keeps "Losing" Their Phone?"

Brain Fitness: Starting the Discussion

Explorers at San Francisco Village take the first steps in a serial exploration of how best to maintain brain fitness as we grow older.

Listen to: "Brain Fitness: Starting the Discussion "

Explorers Report 'Reminder Rosie' Observations

Explorers Ayanna and Lynn report on their experiences, as well as the those of several of their friends using Reminder Rosie, the talking alarm clock, during the past month. Then the explorers discuss and comment.

Listen to: "Explorers Report 'Reminder Rosie' Observations"

Explorers Discuss Reminder Rosie, Siri, and Alexa

Longevity Explorers at Saratoga Retirement Community are introduced to Reminder Rosie, a memory aid in the form of a talking alarm clock.

Listen to: "Explorers Discuss Reminder Rosie, Siri, and Alexa "

Brain Research: explorers discuss brain health registry

Commonwealth Club Explorer Blanche introduces a discussion about brain health and the brainhealth registry.

Listen to: "Brain Research: explorers discuss brain health registry"

Dementia tracking watch: discussion @ EVC

One of the circle members reported back from a presentation at UC Davis on an interesting new "tracking watch" for dementia patients. We discussed the class of devices, and the circumstances in which they might be useful, and what sort of features might be more or less useful.

Listen to: "Dementia tracking watch: discussion @ EVC"

Topic Hub

Brain Fitness, Memory, Dementia Technology

Brain, Memory, Dementia Technology

We are exploring ways to optimize brain fitness and memory — looking for ideas about how to push cognitive impairment as far into the future as we can. And we are exploring dementia technology — looking for gadgets that can help older adults function independently as long as possible. We think the right gadgets and Apps should help caregivers and family members minimize the burdens associated with caring for older adults with cognitive impairment. So, we are looking for these innovations too.

Read: "Brain, Memory, Dementia Technology"

About the Impact Theme Series

Our Longevity Explorers (hundreds of older adults with ages ranging from 60-95 years old) meet regularly to discuss topics at the intersection of aging and technology.

Among the many topics we discuss in these meetings, we have been exploring some specific themes which we think are going to be very important for older adults in the future, and which in our opinion are ripe for innovation. These make up our Impact Themes, and Memory and Brain Fitness is one of these themes.

In these discussions:

We share how we do things today;
We explore and critique existing products;
We talk about challenges we have that we wish products could solve; and
We dream up product concepts we wish someone like you would develop.

If you are developing products or services for older adults in the category of Memory and Brain Fitness, listen to the Longevity Explorer discussions on this page to get insights about how to develop better products and services for older adults.

More Explorer Discussions

Researcher Membership

Some of the discussions require a premium Researcher Membership to listen to the audio recording.

Learn about Premium Researcher Memberships.

Topics (broader coverage of this theme):

Brain health, Alzheimers

Memory and Brain Fitness: Older Adult Perspectives

The Impact Theme series: Longevity Explorers Discuss.

Hear what Older Adults Think: Memory and Brain Fitness

Ideas for Music Source for Memory Care Person