Event(s) Summary
Number of Events Organized During Brain Awareness Week:
6
Year:
2015
Type of Events Held:
- Exhibit
- Other
- Press Briefing
- Other: Walk-in activities
- Other: socials
- Other: fitness sessions
Target Audiences:
- Other
- Other: residents of the retirement community
Approximate Number of People Reached:
225
Details of Major Brain Awareness Week Events/Activities:
Our 4th year participating! The kick-off Sunday afternoon reception featured Doris J. Shallcross, Ed.D., Professor Emerita of the University of Massachusetts Amherst where she directed the Graduate Program in Creativity, presenting her “Your Creative Brain”. The week’s menus offered Brain Healthy eating choices and daily announcements included brain-wise quotations. “Food for Thought” quotations also served as decor in the dining areas. Yoga, Tai Chi & fitness sessions conducted throughout the week stressed the brain benefits derived from physical exercise. Brain Stations which consisted of such materials as puzzles and vintage magazines – a real “trip down memory lane” – changed daily and were found scattered throughout the facility specifically outside the dining rooms and the mail room. Posted in the elevators daily, residents found “Brainy Bits” – tips for brain health – such as “proper diet, exercise & sleep are critical for optimal brain functioning” or how meditation increases gray matter in areas of the brain associated with short-and long-term memory and complex cognitive processes. An afternoon of creative thinking activities ended the week. The objective of our program: to inform and demonstrate to residents how they can take an active part in planning their own cognitive fitness for their lifetime. The goal was achieved as evidenced by: four years of BAW partticipation, yearly increases in attendance and parting words “What’s new next year?”!
Event Planning & Publicity
Publicity Methods Used:
- Posters/Flyers
- Other
Other Publicity Methods:
Schedule of BAW events was found listed on the resident's printed calendar which is distributed to each resident's mailbox as well as posted in the Commons and other public places in the Community. Unique to Duncaster Retirement Community are daily phone call announcements to individual residents. The daily schedule of BAW events was included in this daily communication.
Which of These Publicity Methods Was The Most Successful?
Resources
Of the Dana Foundation publications/resources distributed at your event(s), if any, please indicate the three most popular. Please choose up to three. If "other," please indicate below:
- It’s Mindboggling!
- BAW Pencils and Erasers
- Other
Other Dana Foundation Materials Distributed:
- Puzzles
What other downloadable materials would you like the Foundation to provide?
- Fact Sheets
- Lesson Plans
- Activities/Experiments
- New Puzzles/Games
- New Coloring Sheets
Which BAW graphic materials did you use in publicizing your events?
- BAW Logos
- BAW Poster
- BAW Web site banner
Feedback & Keys to Success
How do you feel BAW participation benefited your organization and the local community?
There has been no immediate tangible outcome, however BAW does bring a lot of residents together, draws them out of their individual apartments and builds on the feeling of community. Also leads to enhanced discussions during socials, sharing information they learned – “Did you hear about that new…?” “What do you think about that new finding…?”
Please share any suggestions or lessons learned that may help others plan future events:
We found that many Duncaster Residents were most interested in the science, the factual information on the brain, rather than the health benefits. Some even commented that they were overwhelmed, getting TMI, and were tired of hearing about cognition- improving and maintaining it. This knowledge gives us cause to consider a different focus for next year’s events. Perhaps more expert lectures.
Did/do you like our Facebook page?
No
Was the information provided on Facebook useful?
N/A
Quotable comments which capture successful aspects of your event(s):
"I liked hearing the interesting facts about the brain." Upon exiting the Sunday Kickoff event, Dr. Shallcross' workshop, "Your Creative Brain" we overheard many of the participants commenting on what a good time they had. "That was a lot of fun!"
