Our first Reconnections program in 2014!

Reconnections is 10!

Insight Memory Care Center may be celebrating our 40th this year, but we also have another milestone anniversary on the horizon. This spring marks the 10th Anniversary of our Early Stage Reconnections program!

When Insight was at our Merrifield location (and still called Alzheimer’s Family Day Center!), we began to see more and more families approach us in the earlier stages of their dementia journey. Many participated in our popular Mind & Body Workshop, a couple’s group that met weekly to help families adjust to a new diagnosis. But they also expressed interest in having a program just for the diagnosed individual. They weren’t yet ready for the Day Center, but were looking for social activities and meeting with peers that understood their word finding difficulties or slower response times.

With little space available at our Merrifield location, the Reconnections early stage program first began as a series of partnerships with local churches. Starting in the spring of 2014, we offered two groups - one in Fairfax and one in Alexandria - meeting once or twice a week to provide engagement and connection for those living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or in the early stages of memory impairment. Once we moved to our Pender Drive location in Fairfax in 2015, the program found a permanent home in our new space!

The Fairfax program grew quickly. Initially offered two days a week, demand necessitated that the program add three, then four days as an option. As the waiting list grew, we began to again offer the program in partnership with other organizations to meet the needs across the area. In 2022, we opened our second dedicated space for the program, our early stage center in Sterling. This location offers another site for Reconnections to meet 4 days a week, and has been steadily growing since its opening! One participant shared their endorsement of the program:

“Well planned, well carried out operation with well-developed staff. Well worth attending as it supports your battle against memory loss.”

What makes Reconnections unique? Reconnections meets the needs of an underserved group – those living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or in the early stages of memory impairment. These individuals don’t typically need extra nursing care, or full-time supervision like you would find at long-term care facilities, or even our adult day health center. What they can truly benefit from is engaging cognitive activities to promote brain health, and peer support to build connection with friends who understand their cognitive symptoms. A participant shares:

“It promotes a team method that helps those attending feel that we are not alone, but TOGETHER.”

Reconnections is a small group program, so individual interests of the group guide weekly activities. Participants enjoy discussion groups, creative arts, exercise and movement, new learning experiences, and so much more! For example, we have started a partnership with the National Gallery of Art to offer virtual visits to the museum - we recently learned about Mary Cassat’s paintings for International Women’s Day! Staff have also been recently been trained in the Otago Exercise Program, a balance and strength training program which, if performed consistently, has been shown to decrease fall risk in older adults by 35 to 40%.

We are so grateful that Reconnections has grown so much over the past 10 years, serving hundreds of individuals over its history. As Insight aims to support individuals in all stages of dementia or memory impairment, we are excited to see how this program can continue to grow and serve those in the early stages of their journey.

Reconnections through the Years!

Learn more about the Reconnections program, or contact us at 703-204-4664 to see if it would be a good fit for your family!

Learn more about Insight's 40th Anniversary Celebration!