Families who have a member with dementia know that one of the first things to go is the use of nouns.
“As they’re getting older, people who lose language through dementia tend to lose nouns more than any other thing,” Dr. Sharon Arkin said. “It’s nouns that disappear. They can’t remember the names.”
They’ll refer to the item as “whatchamacallit” or “thingamajig.” They talk all around it, describe it, but cannot come up with the word. It’s very frustrating for both the person and the family member.
If this sounds familiar, there is help.
Elder Rehab is a program for formerly active people with dementia, those who can still communicate understandably. They are paired with a student volunteer from the University of Arizona’s Physiology Honors Academy. Applications for elder participants are now being accepted for the summer session.
Under the auspices of Arkin, who developed the program, students and clients meet twice weekly for 14 different language stimulation exercises, such as naming famous people and what they’re famous for when given a hint with a first name; interpreting proverbs and idioms; and naming things beginning with different letters of the alphabet. The vocabulary stimulation exercises are designed to activate stored memories and vocabulary grown inaccessible from disuse.
“They really get a workout using vocabulary,” Arkin said. “When a person is home with their spouse or in a care home visited by a relative, the conversations are very, very mundane.”
Participants also receive a customized exercise routine and one other, equally important, benefit: an opportunity for social interaction and dedicated attention.
“How many elderly people have the undivided attention of a young person for four hours a week for two semesters or longer?” Arkin said.
Arkin herself trains the student volunteers, most of whom are pre-med, so this is an important opportunity for them as well.
“It’s a magical connection between the student and the participant,” she said.
The program begins June 9.
Elder Rehab
WHEN: Two-hour, twice-weekly sessions from June 9 to Aug.13; specific times will be decided between the volunteer and client
WHERE: Desert Sports and Fitness Northeast, 2480 N. Pantano Road, Tucson
COST: $25 per two 2-hour sessions a week, prepaid
INFO: To apply, call Dr. Sharon Arkin, 520-603-2912, or email sharonmerlearkin@gmail.com
This article appears in Apr 17-24, 2025.