University Of Central Florida Students Use Wii And Yoga To Help Alzheimer's Patients

Main Category: Alzheimer's / Dementia
Also Included In: Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine
Article Date: 14 Nov 2008 - 4:00 PST

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University of Central Florida students are helping people with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders through an innovative program that blends traditional therapy along with games such as the Wii and yoga.

Media are invited to attend a session from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, Nov. 14, or Friday, Nov. 21, at First United Methodist Church of Winter Park, 125 N. Interlachen Ave.

The students from the Communication Disorders Clinic at UCF visit participants once a week to provide traditional one-on-one therapy sessions, followed by individual and group sessions where participants play the Wii and yoga. The students are studying to be therapists and are supervised by a faculty member.

The students are a part of a program called Brain Fitness. Nancy Gerrity founded the nonprofit organization a few years ago for a very personal reason. Her husband, then in his early 50s, was diagnosed with a type of dementia. At the time, there were no local day facilities that provided appropriate stimulation for persons with early onset dementia, so she began advocating for one.

Today, the program serves 10 to 12 adults each week for a nominal fee. First United Methodist Church of Winter Park hosts the program for free.

Patrticipants, students, UCF faculty advisors and the program's founder are available for print and on-camera interviews. Please contact News and Information at 407-823-6120 to make arrangements before Friday.

University of Central Florida