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Creating spring bird houses and blooms at our Sterling Early Stage Center!

Insight’s Impact in Loudoun County

Building Community Through Engagement

Have you heard the saying "many hands make light work"? Since opening our Early Stage Center in Sterling in 2022, we have certainly found this to be the case! With the help of dedicated staff, volunteers, friends, and community partners, our Sterling location has truly bloomed over the last three years. We've strengthened our community ties, making a real difference in Loudoun County by building connections, supporting brain health, and offering engaging programs for our participants and their families. Learn more about what we've been up to in Sterling!
 

Connecting in Reconnections

The main program in Sterling is our early stage social engagement program, Reconnections. Offered four days a week, Reconnections promotes brain health while creating connection for those living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or in the early stages of memory impairment. Together with professional staff, small groups participate in discussion groups, recreational therapies, learning experiences, and all have the opportunity for peer support and to socialize in a safe, stigma-free setting.

Recreation and movement are a vital part of our Reconnections programming. With grants and donations, we've recently added some exciting new activities in the center! We now have an arcade-style mini basketball game, a dartboard, a BINGO set, and a volleyball net. The volleyball net will come in handy as we prepare teams for the Loudoun County Senior Volleyball tournaments in May and September. Our popular Tai Chi sessions, led by Cynthia, take place on the first Friday of each month, offering our participants relaxation and gentle exercise.

Our participants have also enjoyed enriching excursions. We visited Loudoun Therapeutic Riding in October, where we met and groomed horses before serving them snacks that we had prepared with care. A group took a fascinating trip to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in November, where a knowledgeable guide brought aviation history to life. In December, we had a heartwarming visit to the Leesburg Senior Center, attending a concert by individuals with memory challenges who played chimes, making the experience especially meaningful.

Besides our outings, we've been lucky to have talented volunteers and musicians visit Reconnections Sterling, bringing creativity and energy to our community. Regular performances by musicians like Doug and Karen Engwall, Martin Novak, Anthony Hyatt, Melanie Edwards, Jerry Roman, and Vince Borrelli have made music a key part of our programs. These artists have a special way of lifting spirits, whether through lively guitar performances, ukulele sing-alongs, or violin storytelling. See Me at the Smithsonian is another favorite virtual program, led by Amy Castine - who won the 2024 Insight Memory Care Center’s Excellence in Memory Care Award. Other volunteers help support ongoing arts projects, including creating paintings, vision boards, birdhouses, and ornaments in the last few months alone. We especially enjoy visits from our animal friends with Echoes of Nature and Mary Beth Forsyth from Morningside House of Leesburg's sweet dog.
 

Wider Community Engagement

We also encourage care partners and families to get involved in Sterling as well! One of the summer's highlights was our Ice Cream Social in July, where families came together to build their own sundaes. The event was a hit, with people enjoying laughter, sweet treats, and good conversation. In November, we held a Friendsgiving celebration, featuring a smoked turkey courtesy of Insight, as well as a variety of side dishes and recipes contributed by the families, which helped build a sense of community. Our February event, Share the Love, was a warm and welcoming family party, with a musician setting the mood, tasty treats, and a fun group game.

Insight offers a number of care partner and community programs at Insight Sterling as well, and community teamwork is vital to their success! We truly appreciate the support from local businesses and our amazing volunteers. Ridgetop Coffee & Tea offers a space for our monthly Care Partner Meet-Up. They also partner with us to provide lunch for our Reconnections program. ECHO Works helps us with transportation for our Reconnections Sterling outings. Each summer, Claude Moore Community Builders sends high school volunteers. They bring a burst of intergenerational energy to our programs. Teaming up with 100 Women Strong and Unite Us has helped widened our referral network helping to reach more people that need our support.

Insight's commitment to brain health education and memory care reaches beyond our center's walls. At the Ashburn Library, we conduct Memory Screenings twice a month and host educational presentations on brain health. We also offer these presentations at the Ashburn Senior Center and Cascades Senior Center. The Ashburn Library's Memory Café provides a comfortable space for individuals with memory challenges and their caregivers to gather. Furthermore, we have formed partnerships with Waltonwood, Lansdowne Heights, and Equality Loudoun to offer memory screenings, Virtual Dementia Tours, and social events, such as our participation in the Pride Festival and SAGE tables.

With its wide range of engaging activities, performances, and educational programs, Insight Sterling is a vibrant hub of connection and support for the Loudoun County community residents living with dementia and their families. We’re very thankful for our staff, volunteers, and partners. Their hard work and commitment make this connection possible!

Support our work in Loudoun County! 

Insight is participating with Give Choose, a 24-hour day of online giving organized by the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties. Give Choose benefits local charities serving our community, to make our community the best place to grow up and grow old. Support our Early Stage programs in Loudoun with a gift today!