April 19, 2016  

BrainBuilders group to help adults with memory loss

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Individuals struggling with memory loss can learn how to maximize thinking, memory and social skills through Purdue University's BrainBuilders program.

BrainBuilders, as well as a support group for family members, are offered through Purdue's Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. The department also offers a caregiver support group, Circle of Friends. These groups meet weekly at University Place, 1700 Lindberg Road, West Lafayette. To reserve a spot or more information, contact Claudia Mornout, clinical professor, 765-494-2343, cmornout@purdue.edu The groups meet 10-11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Interested participants should be living at home or with family and wish to maximize their thinking, memory and communication abilities. The group can benefit those affected by Alzheimer's disease, frontal temporal dementia, Parkinson's disease, adult on-set hydrocephalus, primary progressive aphasia, vascular dementia, as well as other medical conditions.

"Working with our graduate students, group members can construct photo-memory books which are used to stimulate long term memory and narrative language skills," said Claudia Mornout, clinical professor and director of clinical education in speech-language pathology. "Students also lead brain exercises designed to give thinking skills a work out as well as engage the participants in art and physical activities to foster creativity and a sense of accomplishment. Along the way, members forge new bonds and friendships that are fun and enriching."

The family caregivers group focuses on how to develop better caregiving skills, learn stress reduction techniques and provide support to one another through sharing experiences. 

Writer: Amy Patterson Neubert, 765-494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu

Source: Claudia Mornout, 765-494-2343, cmornout@purdue.edu 

Related website:

College of Health and Human Sciences 

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