On Monday, June 21, at Roswell Senior Center, student volunteers from “Chess for a Cause” gathered to teach and play chess with seniors. This introductory chess lesson was organized to raise Brain Awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s research.
The chess session started with a presentation on why chess is important for seniors today. The game was explained through an interactive video and hands -on practice. The session ended with game play between kids and seniors. The seniors were very engaged and active throughout the session. A tournament chess set was donated to the center to allow seniors to continue playing (courtesy US Chess Trust).
Chess for a Cause, is a non-profit association formed by high school students as a first step towards using chess to help alleviate and prevent the effects of aging-related dementia in adults. The Chess for a Cause team visits senior care, memory care, and assisted living facilities across metro Atlanta area and introduces them to the game of chess. The hope is that the mental stimulation provided by chess may help reduce the rate of cognitive decline for the residents at these facilities.
This session was specifically organized as part of the Alzheimer’s and Brain awareness month. The Chess for a Cause team is trying to increase the awareness and importance of brain exercises for healthy living while also supporting the Longest Day fundraiser for Alzheimer’s research.
This small step by the “Chess for a Cause” team to increase brain awareness among seniors and the need for balanced exercises has reached hundreds of seniors and is expected to grow in the fall with participation from more enthusiastic kids from other schools joining the movement. The GA Department of Health and Human Services believes that their efforts are making our communities more age-friendly - announcement