Seniors work to keep their minds sharp with brain fitness program in Ogle County

OREGON, Ill. (WTVO) — Margo Ackland, of Mt. Morris, says she knows how important it is, to keep her brain active and healthy.

She and others attended Rock River Center’s “Brain Health” class on Monday.

Rock River Center, located at 810 S. 10th Street in Oregon, started out as the Yellow Bird Senior Citizen’s Drop-In Center in 1975, and later became Ogle County Senior Services.

Now, it functions as a volunteer storefront that provides a social experience for aging adults.

“I’m all for brain health, just doing whatever I can do to keep active and strong,” Ackland said.

The event was put on by the University of Illinois’ Extension, using the Wits Fitness program, a brain health resource program that incorporates memory activities, games, and puzzles.

Family Life Educator Kara Schweizer said, “The first part is: work on an intellectual challenge, which is a major brain health contributor. [The second part is to promote] social connection, so that they can interact with others. Participants in the program get to know one another and just have a good time.”

“We’ll have some sort of problem that doesn’t really figure out the way that you expect it to,” Ackland said. “So, you have to look at it upside down or you have to look at it by adding things together or skipping numbers.”

Kathy Kain, who was also at Monday’s class, says she knows the importance of brain health exercises, with many in her life struggling with Alzheimer’s disease or other mental issues.

“With some exercises like that, [I say] ‘Oh, geez, I don’t know if I can do these or not!’ But then as I went through them, I could answer some of the questions and then I would think a little bit longer and then I could answer a few more,” said Kain.

“I just want to keep my brain as active as I can so that I don’t have that issue really,” she said, “because that scares me, you know? All of a sudden, not knowing what you know, what time of day it is, you know? Not being in control.”

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