Promoting Brain Health and Resilience
Host Institution: Nova Scotia Health Authority
A project team of geriatric psychiatry experts at Dalhousie University in the Nova Scotia Health Authority has developed the Fountain of Health (FoH) Initiative for Optimal Aging. It is one of the first educational initiatives of its kind in the world looking to translate the current science of healthy aging, well-being and resilience into practical tools for use by clinicians and the public.
Grounded in evidence-based principles of cognitive behavioural therapy, the FoH initiative uses a healthy aging prescription to promote healthy cognition and resilience in the areas of positive thinking, social activity, physical activity, mental health and lifelong learning.
Funded by an award of $50,000, the project team will disseminate paper and online clinical tools to at least 50 healthcare providers. They will then measure how the intervention empowers people to make positive changes to their health behaviours and shift clinicians’ practices toward more preventative care. If successful, this project will help change clinicians’ practice and patients health behaviours to promote cognitive fitness.