The main aim of these workshops is to demonstrate that, although certain abilities such as memory or attention may objectively decrease with age, it is still possible to train them, provided no major disorders are present, in order to maintain a satisfactory level of functioning in daily life. “We live in an extremely ageist society, filled with stereotypes about aging: older individuals are perceived as having failing memories, being sluggish, and complaining often,” notes Émilie Joly-Burra. In my research activities, I frequently hear participants say that old age resembles a shipwreck. The goal of our workshops is to alter this fatalistic viewpoint and to help seniors see themselves as capable individuals who can take charge of their abilities.
Enhancing Daily Life
Specifically, the workshops teach participants various techniques aimed at improving their everyday lives, particularly focusing on their prospective memory – which enables them to remember actions that need to be performed in the future – as well as their capacity to retain new information. One of the strategies is based on the mechanisms of memory encoding – how the brain integrates new knowledge – and involves focusing attention on the moment the information is recorded, followed by a series of mental repetitions. “This conscious effort to memorize information is not rocket science and is highly effective, even for individuals with considerable difficulties,” asserts the specialist.
Other techniques are also introduced, such as forming habits to promote the adoption of a healthy lifestyle. “Our aim is to encourage participants to implement new behaviors that will persist,” explains Émilie Joly-Burra. “It’s not enough merely to have a collection of techniques; they must also be applied. We place significant emphasis on transferring learning into daily life, as this is often what is lacking in interventions.” Among the techniques proven to be effective, implementation intentions create an automatic link between a situation and an intended action. This involves establishing a verbal connection – a phrase like “when…, then…” – paired with a mental image that helps the individual envision the situation. For instance, someone wishing to take a thirty-minute walk after eating can establish the verbal link, “when I finish my meal, then I’ll go out for a walk around the neighborhood,” and then visualize washing their plate, putting on their shoes, and stepping out. The stronger the automatic connection between these two moments, the more likely the person is to take action. “Our research has shown that this strategy significantly enhances the likelihood of achieving one’s goal, increasing it by 2.5 times for people aged 75 and by 5 times for individuals over 80,” the researcher explains.
Finally, the physiological and relational changes that occur with age are examined, along with various factors contributing to physical and cognitive aging, such as lifestyle, environmental conditions, and psychological influences. “Self-image and stereotypes have a significant impact,” notes Émilie Joly-Burra. “Individuals with a negative perception of aging tend to live an average of 7.5 years less than those who view it positively.”
Maintaining Personal Goals
Starting in January, a workshop focused on identity aspects, based on the scientist’s thesis work, will be offered. Although resources such as physical, cognitive, social, or financial capacity tend to decline, it is crucial for seniors to maintain personal goals and a sense of continuous identity for their overall well-being. The workshop will involve reflecting on their values and goals, identifying the resources that remain intact, and those that have changed, in order to outline the adjustments necessary to achieve their desired objectives. “A person who has enjoyed cycling throughout their life but now faces a heart problem can adapt their habits to preserve the essence of what motivates them,” explains Émilie Joly-Burra. For example, they might choose to ride an electric bike or go hiking in the mountains with friends. Ultimately, it’s about rethinking how seniors perceive and utilize their resources to pursue activities that enhance their well-being.”
Initially free of charge, the workshops are currently seeking funding for the future. “The intention is not to create barriers to accessing these protective activities against cognitive decline,” warns Émilie Joly-Burra.
Empowering Seniors Through Memory and Lifestyle Workshops
The primary objective of these workshops is to show that, even if certain abilities objectively decline with age, such as memory or attention, it is possible, in the absence of major disorders, to train them to maintain a functioning that remains satisfactory on a daily basis. “We live in an extremely ageist society, with many stereotypes around aging: older people have failing memories, they are slow, complain all the time, etc.,” notes Émilie Joly-Burra. In the context of my research activities, I often hear participants say that old age is a shipwreck. The goal of our workshops is to change this fatalistic perspective and to restore, in seniors, a vision of themselves as competent individuals capable of acting on their own abilities.
Improving Everyday Life
Concretely, the workshops teach participants various techniques to improve their daily lives, particularly their prospective memory – which allows them to remember actions to be carried out in the future – or their ability to retain new information. Based on the mechanisms of memory encoding – the way the brain integrates new information – one of these strategies consists of focusing one’s attention on the moment when the information is recorded, then performing a certain number of mental repetitions. “This conscious effort to memorize information is not rocket science and works extremely well, even for people who have significant difficulties,” says the specialist.
Techniques to Enhance Memory and Lifestyle
Other techniques addressed in the workshops include establishing habits that promote a healthy lifestyle. “Our goal is to get participants to implement new behaviors that last,” explains Émilie Joly-Burra. “Indeed, it is not enough to have a set of techniques; they also need to be put into practice. We work a lot on this transfer of learning into everyday life, because this is often what is lacking in interventions.”
Implementation Intentions
Among the techniques with proven effectiveness, implementation intentions consist of creating an automatic link between a situation and an action to be carried out. This involves establishing a verbal connection – a sentence such as “when…, then…” – with a mental image that allows you to project yourself into the situation. For example, a person who would like to walk thirty minutes after eating can create the verbal link “when I finish my meal, then I’ll go out for a walk around the neighborhood” and then imagine washing their plate, putting on their shoes, and going out. The stronger the automatic association between these two moments, the more likely it is that the person will take action.
“Our work has shown that this strategy significantly increases the probability of achieving one’s goal, by 2.5 times for people aged 75, and by 5 times for older people (>80 years old),” the researcher explains.
Understanding Aging: Factors and Impacts
Finally, the changes that occur with age, whether physiological or relational, are explored as are the different factors that contribute to physical and cognitive aging: lifestyle, environmental factors, and psychological factors.
The Role of Self-Image
“Self-image and stereotypes have a huge impact,” observes Émilie Joly-Burra. “People who adopt a negative view of aging live on average 7.5 years less than those who have a positive view of it.”
Maintain Personal Goals
Starting in January, a workshop devoted to identity aspects – based on the scientist’s thesis work – will be offered. While resources, whether physical, cognitive, social, or financial, decline, seniors have every interest in maintaining personal goals and a sense of identity continuity for their well-being.
Reflecting on Values and Goals
The workshop will involve reflecting with seniors on their values and goals, then identifying the resources that are still preserved alongside those that are altered in order to define modifications that can be put in place to achieve the desired objectives. “A person who has been cycling all their life and now has a heart problem can readjust their habits to keep the essence of what motivates them,” explains Émilie Joly-Burra. For example, they can ride an electric bike or go hiking in the mountains with friends. Ultimately, it’s about revisiting the way in which seniors perceive and mobilize their resources in order to pursue activities that contribute to their well-being.
Accessing the Workshops
Free in the first phase, the workshops are still awaiting funding for the future. “The idea is not to create a barrier to accessing these protective activities against cognitive decline,” warns Émilie Joly-Burra.
Benefits of Participating in Memory and Lifestyle Workshops
- Improved cognitive functions, such as memory retention and attention span.
- Enhanced ability to create and maintain healthy habits.
- Boosted self-esteem through positive self-image and community engagement.
- Strategies for managing daily tasks more effectively.
Practical Tips for Seniors Looking to Enhance Their Abilities
- Engage in regular mental exercises, such as puzzles or memory games.
- Establish a routine to facilitate the adoption of new habits.
- Seek opportunities for social interaction to combat feelings of isolation.
- Maintain a positive attitude towards aging and focus on competencies rather than decline.
Case Studies: Success Stories from Workshops
Several participants have reported significant improvements in their daily lives after attending the workshops. For instance, one participant shared how using the “when, then” strategy helped him remember to take his medication on time, resulting in better health management. Another participant found renewed passion in hiking by transitioning to an electric bike, allowing her to stay physically active and socially engaged with peers.
