Active Community Reintegration Of Greek Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment

The original research presented in this paper constitutes partial fulfilment of a 15-month study funded by the Partnership Agreement for the Development Framework 2014-2020 (Project title: Translation Prototypes for the Appropriation of Foreign Language Cognitive Disorder Screening Tests and Cross- Scientific Networks of Neuropsychological Intervention; Project code: MIS 5005306). Our main task was to evaluate the activation of mother tongue verbal memory under different non-pharmacological interventions (foreign language learning, workout and computer learning, sleep hygiene and walking) designed for Greek older adults diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Through our research, we aimed at energizing the relevant local market of services so that they broaden their scope and mission and include MCI clients, as the first step of their reintegration in society. The results of our research have shown that the most successful interventions were foreign language learning and computer training, i.e. language use orientated activities. In both cases, speech was the main means of interaction between instructors and trainees and speech was the modality which was measurably improved. In line with recent research, physical activities and sleep hygiene contributed less to the enhancement of the mental lexicon. The benefits from our study are twofold: MCI older adults clearly profit from non-pharmacological interventions; additionally, private sector institutions involved in lifelong education and continuing training may create programmes tailored to meet the needs of this large cognitively able clientele.