How We Help
The Charlie and Harriett Shaffer Cognitive Empowerment Program provides an enriching, highly social environment in which we explore lifestyle interventions around the following areas:
Physical health plays a key role in supporting brain function and quality of life for people living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Our Get Active class helps participants build strength and stay mobile, offering safe, paced resistance and aerobic exercises to support long-term independence. Therapeutic Yoga focuses on gentle movement, breathing, and relaxation to improve balance, mood, and stress while encouraging self-care for both individuals with MCI and their care partners. Tai Chi blends slow, flowing motions with focused breathing to improve physical balance and mental focus—skills that MCI often challenges. Our nutrition sessions help participants understand how food choices affect brain health, with practical guidance based on the MIND diet and hands-on experiences like olive oil tasting. Together, these programs support whole-person wellness and help people with MCI—and those who care for them—stay strong, focused, and informed.
We use several key strategies to help those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) live as independently and confidently as possible. Our Cognitive Training sessions teach practical strategies that help compensate for memory and thinking challenges, like forgetting appointments, losing track of conversations, or struggling with complex tasks. Participants learn how to build strong habits, use memory tools, and apply focus and problem-solving techniques in everyday life. Functional Independence curriculum supports this by helping individuals stay engaged in the activities that bring them meaning and purpose. We provide safety tips, fall prevention strategies, and introduce helpful tools and technology to support daily living. Together, these programs empower people with MCI to stay engaged, safe, and connected to what matters most.
Emotional well-being is a vital part of living well with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and our program offers support for both members and care partners. Support groups provide a safe, confidential space to share experiences and build relationships with others facing similar challenges, with separate monthly sessions available during and up to a year after program completion. Social engagement is built into the weekly experience, with added opportunities to participate in free artmaking, art looking, and music electives that help participants stay connected and creative. Our Live Well sessions focus on coping with the emotional impact of an MCI diagnosis, offering tools to manage stress, plan for the future, and navigate everyday challenges. Together, these resources help individuals and care partners feel connected, supported, and more confident in facing what comes next.