Innovative Not-For-Profit Focuses On Two Growth Opportunities, Boomers and Brain Fitness

Feb. 11, 2011 - PRLog -- Innovative Not-For-Profit Focuses On Two Growth Opportunities, Boomers and Brain Fitness

Every single day more than 10,000 Baby Boomers reach the age of 65.  This will happen every single day for the next 19 years. So what is this sky-rocketing population’s biggest fear?

Research has shown people 65+ fear dementia more than death!

Because of this, there has been an explosion of brain fitness computer programs and books. And many of them are very good. However, as a resident of a retirement community, Bruce Findley noticed that boomers and seniors prefer to learn in a social setting. So Findley’s private foundation and 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, LEAF Ltd.,  set out to create a program he and other retirees could enjoy learning together.

The program, called Super Noggin (http://www.SuperNoggin.org) , is based on the world-famous Nun Study and other current neuroscience research findings. This comprehensive program offers a multi-pronged approach to LEARN and PRACTICE brain-healthy habits and to TRACK progress --- and is lead by certified instructors. The components of the program promote cognitive challenges, physical exercise, good nutrition, social interaction, stress reduction, and personal reflection.  Hundreds of seniors are already taking advantage of the program.

In Fayetteville, Arkansas, energetic 68-year-old Billie Jean Harvey is a perfect example of the type of person taking advantage of Super Noggin. She is healthy, active and engaged --- and she’s looking to stay that way.

She was recently interviewed by NWA Online about her interest in the program.

“Sometimes, I just get lost in time,” the Fayetteville resident said. “I get tied up with what I’m doing and completely forget my schedule.”

Harvey said she and her husband worry about losing their memory because both of their mothers were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She said she works to keep her mind sharp by doing puzzles and volunteering, but is concerned that her husband, 69-year-old Charles “Winston” Harvey, is stuck in a routine.

Harvey said she and her husband learned about Super Noggin while volunteering at the Fayetteville Senior Center. She said she was relieved when her husband agreed to participate in the program. “I want to do whatever it takes to keep my brain sharp,” she said.

Chris Romick, a retirement community Sales Director in Reading, Pennsylvania agrees that the proactive approach is in line with what his residents are seeking, “"At The Heritage of Green Hills, which is a full-service retirement community for people 55 and up, our residents believe in prevention through a healthy lifestyle… rather than reactive health care.

Our residents want to STAY healthy! This is why Super Noggin was such a perfect fit for our community. I can tell you this much, people have told us that one of the attractions for moving to The Heritage was the availability of Super Noggin."

Tom Mann, whose firm TR Mann Consulting (http://www.TRMann.com) heads up the marketing for Super Noggin, has been impressed with the rapid growth of membership. “Throughout the country, when local papers have run stories on those retirement communities, fitness centers, and senior centers that are offering Super Noggin, their phones have been ringing off the hook. There’s a great demand!” says Mann. “And given our country’s looming budget crisis, anything we can do that might keep the symptoms of Alzheimer’s or dementia at bay is a good thing.”

About Super Noggin:

Super Noggin is a brain health program for those who want to stay mentally sharp throughout life.  It is designed to maintain and even improve brain fitness, but following the program also contributes to good physical health – a bonus!

Super Noggin is suitable for adults of any age, including those with normal aging memory problems (“senior moments”).  It is not designed for those already diagnosed with cognitive decline.  Super Noggin was developed by LEAF Ltd., a private foundation and 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting intellectual wellness.

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TR Mann Consulting specializes in marketing and advertising for Baby Boomers and beyond. Our clients include real estate developers, magazine publishers, the travel industry, and company’s that sell consumer goods or services to the mature market.