EnhanceFitness and EnhanceWellness

08/30/2026

And right at the center of it all? Exercise. Find a low cost or free class at www.projectenhance.org/locations We can’t wait to meet you!

This diagram outlines three key aspects essential for maintaining and improving brain health: increasing brain reserve, reducing brain inflammation, and reducing brain damage 🧠

Increasing brain reserve involves engaging in lifelong learning, participating in real-life cognitive activities, and preserving hearing, having meaningful and fulfilling relationships, and addressing mental health issues, which together help build a resilient brain capable of withstanding age-related decline.

Reducing brain inflammation focuses on protecting the head from traumas and maintaining healthy nutrition, as these measures can lower inflammation levels in the brain.

Reducing brain damage includes stopping smoking, addressing obesity, and managing conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol.

By focusing on these principles, individuals can take a comprehensive approach to brain health, starting from any point and making gradual, sustainable improvements without relying on quick fixes or vitamin concoctions.

Notice that exercise stands at the core of these principles, highlighting its central role in promoting overall cognitive well-being!

Which is an area you are working on and need to improve?

Diagram inspired by the publication: ‘Dementia prevention, intervention, and care. Livingston G, et al. The Lancet. 2017’.

08/30/2026

What do you think? Are you ready to try “A Year of Living Socially”??

Ken Stern is investing in social connection the same way you treat nutrition or exercise – as a key component of health and well-being. Because it is.

08/29/2026

Nature isn't just beautiful; it's medicine for your mind!

Feeling stressed? Step outside. Spending time in nature lowers cortisol (your body's main stress hormone), slows your heart rate, and eases muscle tension. Even 20 minutes in a park can shift your nervous system into rest and recovery.

It's not just physical, either. Green spaces can help quiet the mind. Spending time outdoors has been shown to improve mood and provide a real sense of calm that's hard to find anywhere else.

You don't need a hike or a weekend getaway. A walk around the block, ten minutes under a tree, or just sitting under the sun counts.

Our bodies feel better in nature. So, step outside and give yourself that gift.

08/28/2026

Recent research reinforces a message we share every day in classes: what's good for the heart is good for the brain! A study found that the American Heart Association's Life’s Essential 8, a measure of overall cardiovascular health, is strongly associated with dementia risk as well as heart health.

Life’s Essential 8 includes:

Eating a healthy diet
Being physically active
Getting enough sleep
Avoiding to***co and ni****ne
Maintaining a healthy weight
Managing blood pressure
Managing blood sugar
Managing cholesterol

The good news is that many of these factors are within our control, and regular physical activity is one of the most powerful steps we can take. Exercise helps support heart health, strength, balance, mobility, and overall well-being. It may also play an important role in maintaining brain health as we age.

Whether you're attending an EnhanceFitness class, taking a daily walk, gardening, dancing, or staying active in another way, every movement counts.

The formula for healthy aging is simple:

Move more.
Eat well.
Sleep well.
Don't smoke.
Know your numbers: blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and weight.

Small healthy habits add up over time. Taking care of your heart today may help protect your brain for years to come.

Send a message to learn more

08/27/2026

It ALL counts toward feeling better and aging your way!

08/25/2026

How are you amplifying Fall Prevention Awareness Week? Check out this great lineup of activities at Sno-Valley Senior Center in Carnation, WA for inspiration!

Falls Prevention Day | Wednesday, September 23, 8:45 am – 2pm

Falling is NOT an inevitable part of aging! Learn about fall risks and ways to prevent falls at any age. The goal of this event is to connect the Snoqualmie Valley Community with organizations, programs, and service providers who address the range of interventions associated with reducing falls and fall-related injuries in older adults.

Join us for FREE resource fair, exercise class, and informative presentations, all designed to provide information and ideas that allow people of all ages to stay active and resilient!

Be sure to reserve your FREE lunch by calling 425-333-4152 (reservations required).

8:45 – 9:45 EnhanceFitness exercise class-come try it out for free!
9:45 – 12:00 Resource Fair with local organizations and service providers-drop in period
10:00 Presentation: Fall Prevention for Seniors by King County EMS Fall Prevention Program
10:40 Presentation: Reducing Fall Risk Through Home Interventions by Eastside Grab Bars
11:20 Presentation: Foot Health by Dr Brennan Menninger, Snoqualmie Valley Health
12:00 Lunch (FREE for all-you must register by Tues, 9/22 at noon, by calling 425-333-4152)
1:00 Presentation: Reducing Fall Risk Through Exercise with SVSC Fitness Instructors

Please sign up for this event at the Senior Center, or by calling 425-333-4152, or online using the link: https://igfn.us/form/DTYXlA

08/12/2026

“Those who have completed the course have reported lower medical bills because they aren’t falling as often,” Cusano-McLaughlin said. “Doctors and physical therapists also report seniors having an increased range of motion and strength bearing and balance. We just wrapped up our second round of Enhance Fitness here and we have had amazing results and feedback.” Read on!

CORTLAND — Thanks to grant funding, the Cortland County Family YMCA will soon be offering two evidence-based fitness classes for free. The two programs each have a target demographic in

07/29/2026

Project Enhance Director Paige Dension recently joined Dr. Liz Joy and Elana Kieffer Blass on the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Momentum Discussions Podcast to talk about why strength training should be part of health care.

They discussed the new American College of Sports Medicine Exercise is Medicine® Active Aging Initiative, which is focused on building stronger connections between health care and community resources that help older adults stay active, strong, and independent.

Your doctor's recommendation to exercise is powerful, but what happens next matters. We need clear pathways to trusted people, places, and programs that can support older adults in taking that next step. Evidence-based programs like Sound Generations help bridge that gap by providing safe, effective, and welcoming opportunities to build strength, improve mobility, and support healthy aging.

Thank you to GSA, ACSM and Dr. Liz Joy for the opportunity to be part of this important conversation. Together, we can make movement and strength a routine part of healthy aging for everyone!

🎧 Listen to the podcast here: https://gsamomentumdiscussions.podbean.com/e/the-missing-prescription-why-strength-training-belongs-in-health-care/

In this episode of the GSA Momentum Discussions Podcast, Paige Denison and Dr. Liz Joy share insights into the global Exercise is Medicine initiative and explore how clinicians can integrate physical activity as a vital sign in clinical care. From formal exercise prescriptions to community resources...

07/29/2026

This paper highlights an innovative approach developed in King County, Washington, where a voter-approved property tax levy has supported community-academic-government partnerships to advance healthy aging and prevention programming for older adults. Glad to see this work published and grateful to the many community, government, and academic partners who contributed to it. Generations of Washington School of Public Health

Most older adults reside independently in community settings. Access to information, programs and services to help older adults maintain their independence is very important. However, these resources are not always available or accessible to older adults, particularly those with limited financial re...

05/22/2026

Congratulations to all of Sound Generations Inspire Positive Aging Health and Wellness Award nominees!!!