A dementia diagnosis typically comes with feelings of fear, shame, loss, and the amount of advice that people will receive can be overwhelming. Alumia brings together current research, best practices, and a flexible and monitored curriculum for people living with early-stage dementia.
We have done the research and we know the science.
Attending to the whole person
Our daily therapies are a robust combination of science and best practices based on the latest research. We stay current with continuous research on dementia trials, studies, and publications to identify the latest methods used to stimulate cognitive function. We integrate our therapy program with monthly assessments to provide insights into your patient’s cognitive function, which are shared with our Members, their families, and their healthcare team.
Discovery
Each individual is different. We evaluate the potential benefit of our Kynemics program for your patients through an initial discovery meeting and a visit to our campus.
Curriculum
Our curriculum consists of a daily rotation of art, music, movement, education, and brain training sessions during the hours of 9:00 am and 3:00 pm. Nutritious meals based on the MIND Diet will be provided between sessions.
Assessments
We provide enrollment, monthly and quarterly assessments for each Member. They are a combination of industry-standard assessments, proprietary cognitive evaluation software, and Alumia Staff observations.
Enrollment
Alumia’s 4 step enrollment process includes pre-screening and cognitive assessments to ensure that your patients are appropriate candidates for Alumia’s services and that we can provide for their needs.
Resources & Best Practices
Every element of our program has been researched to provide the latest therapies and assessment methods for our Members. We provide summaries of this research and access to additional studies in our Insights Book for Members and their families. Below are a few articles referenced in our Insight Book.
The MIND (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) Study
Findings suggest that the MIND diet substantially slows cognitive decline with age. The difference in decline rates for being in the top tertile versus the lowest was equivalent to being…
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Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER) Study Report by ARFP
A two-year intervention of diet, exercise, and cognitive training, is the first large randomized controlled trial showing that it is possible to prevent cognitive decline using a multidomain intervention among older…
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The Kynemics Program
The Kynemics program provides cognitive therapies, assessments, and insights for our Members and their families.
The Kynemics program addresses four domains—Physical, Cognitive, Nutrition, and Social—stimulating cognitive function through a personalized program with our specially-trained attendants and therapists.
Members participate in group physical activity therapies everyday. Movement therapies focus on cardiovascular, strength training, and relaxation exercises such as Tai Chi, resistance training, and yoga. They are aimed at building or maintaining muscle strength and balance, increasing circulation, encouraging a good night’s sleep, and improving confidence and mood. Members are also given movement therapies that can be done at home.
Members participate in group cognitive therapies and individual BrainHQ therapies everyday. Cognitive therapies focus on stimulating cognitive function. They include geo puzzles, serious games, trivia, and computer-based therapies from BrainHQ, a brain-training system based on 30 years of research in neurological science and related medicine and designed by an international team of neuroscientists.
Members enjoy prepared foods that follow the MIND diet and are designed by renowned chef Daniel Asher. The Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay diet (MIND diet) was developed by a team at Rush University Medical Center. It emphasizes fresh fruit, vegetables, legumes, and includes recommendations for specific foods, like leafy greens and berries, that have been scientifically shown to slow cognitive decline. Additional testing has shown that the level of adherence to the MIND diet also impacts the diet’s neuro-protective effects.
Members benefit from daily interaction with other Members. Social interaction can reduce feelings of isolation and improve overall well-being. Members are a part of a cohort—engaging with other Members while participating in therapies and reading and relaxing in the Living Room.
Request Materials
To learn more about the Alumia Institute and Kynemics, please complete the form below to receive information by phone, email, or by mail. We look forward to hearing from you.
