In response to COVID-19, the Gathering Place has started offering virtual classes three mornings each week to people who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. Goals of the new program, CompU.Talk, are to slow cognitive decline and improve short term memory and mood in a format that is stimulating and fun for the student.

Included in the curriculum are current events, exercise, music, art, and memory retrieval activities. In numerous studies, the individual topics have all been found to be effective in delaying symptoms of the diseases. The activities that lower risk factors for Alzheimer’s are the same for slowing progression of the disease at any stage.

Classes are free, limited in size, and all materials are provided at no cost. Applicants must register in the Gathering Place program, be able to read and write, and provide a doctor’s diagnosis. They must also have a computer or a hands-free device with a camera and microphone. In most cases, they will also need a caregiver who will help them access the virtual classroom via Zoom each morning.

Videos

West Mulberry Irregulars 082520

The West Mulberry Irregulars (Matt Edquist, Bob Williams, and Dale Libby) play some hillbilly gospel songs for the students of CompU.Talk on August 25, 2020.

Chris Langley Interview 090120

Chris Langley is the Deputy Assistant Director at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. This operation provides state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community. He discusses his work and the telescopes with his sister, Jeannette Reed, during an interview for CompU.Talk on September 1, 2020.

Sandra Cantu and Christina Barrucho 090820

Sandra Cantu, concert pianist, and Christina Barrucho, professional soprano, perform a few classical pieces from Sandra's home in Montreal for our students during CompU.Talk on September 8, 2020.

Sherry Cavallo Interview 091520

Sherry Cavallo, Gathering Place volunteer and CompU.Talk instructor, is an artist and talks about iconography with Jeannette Reed during an interview on September 15, 2020, for our CompU.Talk students.

Allen Stanton Interview 092320

Allen Stanton, Texas legend and Alvin businessman, talks about his family and their family-owned and operated general store during an interview with Jeannette Reed during CompU.Talk on September 23, 2020.

Breah Knape Interview 092920

Breah Knape, Executive Director of ActionS Inc., talks about the services the non-profit provides to senior citizens in Brazoria County during an interview with Jeannette Reed during CompU.Talk on September 29, 2020.

Brenda Maust 80th Birthday 100120

We celebrated the 80th birthday of our founder, Brenda Maust, during CompU.Talk on October 1, 2020. Jeannette Reed organized the event, and students, teachers and other Gathering Place people expressed their appreciation to Brenda.

Tom Delgado Interview 101320

Tom Delgado, a former volunteer with the Gathering Place, talks with Jeannette Reed about his new healthcare business during an interview for CompU.Talk on October, 13, 2020.

Melinda Kaye Brandt Interview 102020

Melinda Kaye Brandt, new Gathering Place volunteer and CompU.Talk music instructor, talks about her life and interests with Jeannette Reed during an interview on October 20, 2020, for our CompU.Talk students.

Dr Keith Brandt Interview 102720

Dr. Keith Brandt is an aerospace medicine physician currently employed at NASA. He talks about aerospace medicine and his experiences at NASA with Jeannette Reed during an interview for CompU.Talk on October 27, 2020.

Dr Julie Zacharias Simpson Interview 111020

Dr. Julie Zacharias Simpson is a Geriatric and Family Medicine specialist in Henderson, Nevada. She is an expert in dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive issues, and was named Doctor of the Year in geriatrics for the last two consecutive years. She is the daughter of George and Mary Zacharias.

Dr. Niki Zacharias Millward Interview 111720

Dr. Niki Zacharias Millward is a cancer researcher at MD Anderson in Houston. She received her BS in Chemistry from Texas A&M, and followed with her PhD from CalTech in 2003. She is a faculty member and assistant professor in the urology department at MD Anderson.

Help and hope for families affected by Alzheimer's and related dementias