Research into brain function in the older adult has verified what common sense tells us.
Use it or lose it! Keeping your brain stimulated by challenging it with new ideas and concepts will help you maintain your level of mental function.
ElderCollege courses at North Island College in Campbell River provide a great way to exercise your brain and have fun at the same time. There are a variety of courses being offered starting this month with something of interest for every taste. Most of the courses run for six weeks and are an hour and a half in length.
Wanting to explore your inner artist? Introduction to Wood Carving will provide you with the basic skills to create your own unique work of art. Bear-making also promises to be lots of fun and, at the end of the course, the student will have their own unique teddy bear to either keep or give as a gift.
If you are planning to travel or would simply like to become more proficient in another language, the language courses offered by ElderCollege provide a good introduction. Courses offered this session include French, Spanish, and Japanese, all at a basic level. And, if you want to learn more about other parts of the world, the Travelogues series is an ideal choice. A different destination is highlighted each week so you can experience the joy of travel without leaving your chair.
Changing your diet to improve your health is important at any age but it is particularly important for the aging adult. Fat Simplified and The Healing Cook are two courses that will help you to make more informed choices about what you eat.
Having the opportunity to express your own opinion and hear what others think about current events is very gratifying. To join a discussion about issues affecting our society consider signing up for Current Affairs Discussion Group. In the Film Discussion Group, participants view a thought-provoking film and discuss it afterwards. Ideas and concepts explored last spring in the Introduction to the Middle East course will be discussed in more detail this time around.
Computers for Beginners will get you started on your journey to computer literacy. Digital media will take you even further by showing you how to handle all those photographs that you’ve taken with your digital camera. Other courses include Introduction to Chan Meditation, World Religions and Public Speaking.
One-day Saturday workshops include Introduction to Palmistry and “Stop the Presses” which will explain the ins and outs of preparing press releases. To enroll in classes or workshops you must first become a member of ElderCollege. The membership fee of $10 is paid once per academic year and is open to any person over 50 years of age. Fees for courses are $30 per course and $20 per workshop. To find out more information about ElderCollege, visit the website at www.nic.bc.ca/eldercollege.