The Longest Day
Celebrating The Longest Day® All Week Long!
For the fourth consecutive year, the departments of Recreational Services and Employee Wellness have come together to sponsor The Longest Day® at Kent State, in conjunction with the Alzheimer's Association.
Alzheimer's disease is often referred to as "the long goodbye" because of its slow nature and lasting emotional and physical drain. In honor of people fighting the disease and those who love and care for them, the Alzheimer's Association encourages the public to host events on the longest day of the year - the summer solstice - while raising funds and awareness to advance Alzheimer's care, support and research.
We have a full week of activities planned following the summer solstice on June 20. Read on to learn about the many ways you can participate in this special week.
June 21 – June 25
The Longest Day Photo Challenge. Two ways to play: 1) FIND IT. Take advantage of the extra daylight with an outdoor scavenger hunt, 2) DO IT. Engage in activities to support your brain health or let someone else know you’re thinking of them. Enter to win prizes by sending in at least 3 photos of yourself and your family or friends (four-legged, too) participating in the FIND IT activities, DO IT activities, or both! Submit photos to wellness@kent.edu or post them in the Employee Wellness Facebook Group by Monday, June 28 to be entered into our prize raffle. Click here to download The Longest Day Photo Challenge flyer with more information. Have fun with it! For full time, benefits-eligible employees participating in the Wellness Your Way program, participation in this challenge is worth 10 Tier Two points under the "Move for a Cause" category. You will not need to submit a form; your points will appear under "Move for a Cause" on the Be Well portal in the coming weeks.
Supplemental Photo Challenge Resources
- Click here for More “FIND IT” items
- LTC Facility = Long Term Care Facility
- Learn about Alzheimer’s disease and brain health:
- Nutrition for brain health: https://healthybrains.org/pillar-nutrition/
- Donate to the Alzheimer's Association
Wednesday, June 23, 9:00 a.m.
Webinar: Maintaining a Healthy Brain
Diseases of the brain are scary. As we age, we want to keep our brain functioning well. Join Michael Schechter, MD of Be Well Solutions, as he discusses:
- The basics of brain function and the unique elements of the human brain
- Strategies to maintain memory and concentration
- Normal changes vs. abnormal ones
- Strategies to maintain a healthy brain throughout life
This program is open to ALL full and part time employees. For full time, benefits-eligible employees participating in the Wellness Your Way program, this session is worth 10 Tier Two "Employee Wellness Sponsored Presentations, Workshops or Webinars" points. The webinar will take place from 9-10 a.m. on June 23. Register to attend "Maintaining a Health Brain"
Thursday, June 24, 12:15 p.m.
Longest Day Yoga
Join us for a 45-minute lunchtime yoga class to honor the strength, passion and resilience of those battling Alzheimer’s. This class is open to any level of yogi, from beginners to experienced, and will flow through a series of energy building sun salutations and transition to a sequence of poses that will help bring out the powerful warrior within you.
This program is open to ALL full and part time employees. For full time, benefits-eligible employees participating in the Wellness Your Way program, participation in this challenge is worth 10 Tier Two points under the "Move for a Cause" category. You will not need to submit a form; your points will appear under "Move for a Cause" on the Be Well portal in the coming weeks. The class takes place from 12:15 - 1:00 p.m. on June 24. Register to attend "Longest Day Yoga"
Friday, June 25, 12:00 p.m.
Ask your Eldercare Specialist: Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly
Eldercare Specialist, Kelsey Loushin, LICDC-CS, CDP, will provide a brief overview of the differences in cognitive impairment, dementia, Alzheimer’s. etc. and then open up the floor for your questions.
This program is open to ALL full and part time employees. For full time, benefits-eligible employees participating in the Wellness Your Way program, this session is worth 10 Tier Two "Employee Wellness Sponsored Presentations, Workshops or Webinars" points. The webinar will take place from 12-1 p.m. on June 25. Register to attend "Ask your Eldercare Specialist"
For questions about The Longest Day at KSU, please contact Employee Wellness at wellness@kent.edu.