Nurturing Brain Health and Community Well-Being
Pamela Edgar, MA, LCAT, RDT
Director of Education and Senior Therapeutic Specialist, pedgar@cknyc.org
At CaringKind, every program is designed to promote well-being and meaningful living. From Early-Stage programs like Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) and Connect2Music, to Family Education Webinars and Care Partner Support Groups like Partnering Together and Passages, we focus on three pillars of brain health: learning, social connection, and stress management.
- Learning: Lifelong learning boosts brain health and cognitive reserve, as highlighted in the 2024 Lancet Commission report. Cognitive exercises and brain games like those used in CST groups stimulate executive function and enhance critical thinking Our Family Education Webinars cover over a dozen different subjects to equip care partners with practical knowledge and skills. All programs encourage reflection, inspire creativity, and promote personal growth while building community through shared experience and wisdom.
- Social Connection: Did you know that isolation and loneliness can be as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day? Social isolation can impact overall health and increase risk for mental health conditions and cognitive decline. Our programs cultivate meaningful connections among individuals facing similar challenges, helping participants feel less alone.
As one member of our CST program states: “It’s been helpful to see that despite the Alzheimer’s diagnosis, that it’s worthwhile and satisfying to continue to engage in a group with other people. And have fun.”
- Stress Reduction: Cognitive change and diagnosis can bring significant challenges to individuals and families, with 59% of family care partners reporting high stress levels (2025 Alzheimer’s Association Facts and Figures report). Chronic stress can have detrimental effects on cognitive function and mental health. Programs like Partnering Together incorporate techniques from Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) to increase coping skills. These practices involve bringing non-judgmental attention to the present moment, which research shows can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress, fostering improved mood and quality of We have included a five-minute mindfulness meditation if you want to try it for yourself! (Page 13)
The benefits of this combination of learning, social engagement, and stress reduction are evident in the feedback from Care Partners completing the Partnering Together program. Over 90% report increased dementia knowledge, and over 80% feel better prepared for future challenges.
As one member concludes: “The program provided me with a greater understanding of dementia, its progression, and the stresses I feel as a caregiver. It was helpful to have others on similar journeys to talk to, so I knew I was not the only one having these experiences. Sharing our stories allowed us each to navigate in real time problems we were wrestling with.”
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