WHO ATTENDS MIND WORKS?

The general attitude toward aging in the United States is less than ideal and often leads to anything but comfort for older adults. Almost without exception, youth receives primary consideration in our society. Advertising, product manufacture and design are nearly always presented with young customers in mind.

In addition, elderly people are often treated with less than respect. Any person with gray hair and a few wrinkles, may well be assumed to be unable to make competent decisions, and anyone with hearing loss is likely to be considered even less able. As a result of these general attitudes, some individuals became interested in MIND WORKS as a way to prove to themselves and others that they were still mentally able to direct their own lives. Instances of disrespect, such as those mentioned above, made older adults interested in meeting with empathetic cohorts, those who could share experiences. As a group they have worked together to prove that they really haven’t lost much, if any, mental ability.

Some MIND WORKS beginners are concerned about memory loss. Misplacing keys and eyeglasses is considered humorous at age 20, but after 60 many individuals worry that the problem is serious. Inability to remember a specific word or name may cause apprehensions. Usually, they discover that a minor memory problem was exactly that—minor—and that they quickly readapt to the thinking methods that were so satisfying in their youth or learn other ways to remember the things that troubled them. Indeed, mental exercise in general brings about memory improvement.

Individuals who do not have memory problems, but whose family history includes dementia or Alzheimer's disease are often eager to try new ways to keep their minds active. Some studies indicate that mental exercise helps to ward off or to mask the symptoms of such serious diseases.

Probably the largest group of MIND WORKS participants are friends of current or former attendees. Nothing is more persuasive than a buddy who wants you to share a fun experience. Some MIND WORKS "addicts" have been attending for more than ten years!