Manchester High School offers job shadowing
“While volunteering at UR Community Cares, I learned a lot about the importance of cognitive health in late adulthood. One of the things I realized is that even though older adults might experience some decline in things like processing speed and memory, they still have a lot of valuable knowledge to share.
Berk explains that even as some cognitive abilities decline older adults can still demonstrate something called crystallized intelligence, which is the knowledge and experience they’ve built over their whole lives. This became really clear when I helped the elderly residents practice Braille. At first, some of them struggled to remember how to read the Braille letters. They would get frustrated, especially when they had to remember the specific patterns of the raised bumps. But as time went on, they started to remember things faster and more accurately.
So I started to wonder, how does experience help older adults maintain cognitive health?
Based on Berk, even though older adults might not be as fast, they make up for it by relying on their past experiences, which helps them keep learning. As I watched the older people practice, I realized that their experience and persistence played a big role in their ability to improve. They weren’t as quick as they used to be, but they still got the hang of it over time because they had a lifetime of knowledge to draw on. This made me understand that cognitive health isn’t just about speed or sharpness; it’s also about having the wisdom that comes with age.
As I worked with the residents, I also began thinking, How does cognitive decline affect older adults, and how do they adapt?
Berk says that although older adults may experience a decline in things like “processing speed,” they still have the ability to function well in everyday life by using their crystallized intelligence. I saw this first when the older people, even though they took longer to remember some steps in the Braille lesson, were still able to follow along because they knew how to approach a problem and were persistent.”
“This helped me understand that older adults are still capable of learning new things, but it may take them a little longer than younger adults. Even though processing speed declines, the knowledge and experience they’ve gained over the years help them adapt and succeed in new tasks. Another thing I learned is how important it is for older adults to stay mentally active.
Why is cognitive health so important for emotional well-being in late adulthood?
Berk explains that staying mentally engaged is not only important for cognitive health but also for emotional well-being. For example, when the residents at UR Community Cares were involved in Braille practice, they felt accomplished when they got better at it. This made them feel proud. The more they worked on Braille, the more confident they became.
This shows how keeping your mind active helps maintain emotional health and reduces feelings of loneliness or depression. The older people didn’t just feel like they were learning something new; they also felt good about themselves and their abilities, which made a difference in their overall well-being.”
By Katt Z., a Manchester High School Student
We love giving students real life learning opportunities. Click here for some more info on cognitive development in older adults.
Michelle Puzzo, Executive Director
860-430-4557
www.urcommunitycares.org
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