Jacksonville library to host free brain games session for older adults

The Jacksonville Public Library, working with the University of Illinois Extension, will host a free Wits Workout session from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 20. Geared toward adults 50 and older but open to anyone, the low-pressure program uses word and puzzle games to stimulate memory and encourage social interaction.

Extension educator Karina Moore will lead the session. Activities will include group word puzzles, memory prompts such as naming song titles tied to a theme, and built-in opportunities for conversation. Organizers emphasize interaction and shared activity over finding the right answer, citing socialization and mental challenge as supports for brain health even if they cannot prevent cognitive decline.

Community health experts say informal gatherings like this fill a gap between clinical care and everyday life. For many older residents, particularly those on fixed incomes or living alone, public spaces where people can meet without cost or medical framing are crucial for maintaining social ties that influence mental and physical wellbeing. Libraries have increasingly become hubs for that kind of community-based support, offering accessible programming that complements services from clinics and senior centers.

The library plans to consider additional daytime programming for older adults depending on how the Jan. 20 session is received. That potential expansion could matter to caregivers and retirees who need more options during daytime hours, as well as to local service providers looking for partners to reach isolated residents. Free, in-person programs reduce economic and technological barriers that virtual events can create, though transportation, mobility, and caregiving obligations can still limit who benefits.

For Morgan County policymakers and health planners, sessions like Wits Workout point to practical, low-cost interventions that can be scaled through trusted community institutions. Investing in outreach, transportation partnerships, and accessibility accommodations would help ensure these opportunities reach people most at risk of social isolation and its downstream health effects. Equitable outreach to neighborhoods and communities historically underserved by local services should be part of any expansion plan.

Our two cents? If you or someone you care for could use a friendly, brain-stretching afternoon, consider attending on Jan. 20 and bringing a neighbor. Small social connections add up, and community spaces like the Jacksonville Public Library are a good place to start asking for more daytime options and accessibility supports that make participation possible for everyone.