For Goodwin Living President & CEO Rob Liebreich, the fight against dementia is personal. In 2011, Rob and his family noticed that their mother, Wendy, was experiencing early signs of memory loss. So they decided to do something about it. The result is StrongerMemory, a program that uses reading, writing and math exercises to strengthen the brain and reduce the effects of mild cognitive impairment.

Rob joined us as a guest on Varsity’s aging and longevity podcast, Roundtable Talk to talk about the StrongerMemory program, how it works and some of the amazing success stories behind it.

Here’s a look at a few of the fresh perspectives Rob shared during his conversation with Roundtable Talk host, Derek Dunham. 

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE A CAREER IN AGING SERVICES?

I started off in telecommunications, a very different field. But when my grandmother, Grandma Lee, was about to move into a senior living community, I sat by her bedside as she passed away the day before the move. It hit me so strongly that I needed to join this field—to take out the fear and anxiety people experience and replace it with hope and purpose.

WHAT LED TO THE CREATION OF THE STRONGER MEMORY PROGRAM?

In 2011, my mom began showing signs of memory loss—forgetting conversations, getting lost in familiar places. We did testing and discovered she had mild cognitive impairment. I came across research from Japan showing that reading aloud, handwriting, and math could help nursing home residents plateau or even improve cognitively. I thought, what if we could apply this upstream to someone like my mom? Within 30 days of starting these activities, her repetition decreased, her memory improved, and she navigated places better.

WHAT WERE THE INITIAL RESULTS OF THE STRONGER MEMORY PROGRAM?

We saw dramatic improvements in my mom within the first 30 days. Later, when we introduced the program to a group of assisted living residents, it was remarkable. People began recalling loved ones’ names, sleeping better, and eating better. The emotional impact on families was profound.

CAN THE PROGRAM BE USED PROACTIVELY BEFORE MEMORY LOSS OCCURS?

Absolutely. The tools help calibrate focus and brain health. For example, I met a woman who reads the Bible aloud daily. She doesn’t have cognitive challenges, but she told me her focus improved. Even if you’re not diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, engaging your brain in these ways can have real benefits.

IS THE PROGRAM EFFECTIVE FOR PEOPLE WITH ADVANCED DEMENTIA?

We’ve heard incredible stories, including a nursing home resident who had been non-communicative for over a year. After starting Stronger Memory, she began engaging with her husband and others. The program is simple, accessible, and often reconnects individuals to their loved ones in powerful ways.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM THIS JOURNEY THAT YOU WISH YOU COULD TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF?

Believe you can make a difference, find your path, and keep going. I wish I had started sharing Stronger Memory earlier—maybe three years sooner. That weighs on me, but it also motivates me to push forward and help more people. Sometimes you need to listen to those around you and lean into opportunities when they arise.