Living with memory loss does not mean losing meaning.
At CERTUS Premier Memory Care, purpose is the heartbeat of our work. Through the MAPS® Program – Meaning, Purpose, and Success – residents engage in activities that awaken identity and strengthen confidence. Proofreading newsletters, planning menus, or nurturing the community garden all remind individuals that they still have something vital to contribute.
The National Institute for Dementia Education (2019) emphasizes in its Educational Seminar / Dementia Training that purpose activates the brain’s emotional memory system, helping individuals reconnect with feelings tied to joy, belonging, and self-worth. Emotional memories – especially those tied to holidays, music, or loved ones – can reignite recognition even when other memory pathways are challenged.
Research published in The Gerontologist (Kolanowski et al., 2016) found that individualized, meaningful activities significantly reduce agitation in people living with dementia. A 2023 review in Aging & Mental Health confirmed that personalized engagement enhances mood and social connection – findings mirrored daily in our CERTUS communities.
At CERTUS, purpose isn’t an activity – it’s therapy. When residents participate with meaning, they flourish.
Facts of the Week
Individualized activity programs reduce agitation in residents living with dementia (Kolanowski et al., 2016).
Engagement in personally meaningful activities enhances mood, communication, and social connection (Aging & Mental Health, 2023).
References
Kolanowski, A., Richards, K. C., Behrens, L., Calabrese, B., & Sullivan, S. C. (2016). Individualized activities for people with dementia: Trial findings and clinical implications. The Gerontologist, 56(2), 304–315. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnu132
National Institute for Dementia Education. (2019). Educational Seminar / Dementia Training. NIDE Press.
Aging & Mental Health. (2023). Meaningful engagement and emotional well-being in memory care: A systematic review. Taylor & Francis.
