Knowledgeable Aging

Resources for the Aging Population

Baseball Reminiscence Therapy for Memory Care

Sports reminiscence therapy is a growing innovative intervention that has been making a positive impact for people living with dementia and their caregivers. The “BasebALZ” program in Texas and California is fun and welcoming, enhances socialization and mood, stimulates cognition, and enhances the quality of life of attendees, because when you’re talking baseball, you’re building community.

Talking points:
* The value and benefits of sports reminiscence therapy for people in memory care and social isolation
* Program contents and activities
* Responses from caregivers, resource centers, and people living with dementia
* The program flourishes during the pandemic over Zoom
* Remarkable personal stories from participants and caregivers
* The benefits for caregivers

Listen to the Podcast

  • 1:24 – What is sports reminiscence therapy
  • 2:30 – The impact of baseball on society
  • 4:10 – What is BasebALZ
  • 5:51 – Engagement from participants of BasebALZ
  • 7:54 – Baseball and the senses
  • 9:55 – Caregivers and participants of BasebALZ
  • 11:32 – How the BasebALZ program works
  • 14:12 – How BasebALZ has evolved
  • 16:44 – How the pandemic has changed the program
  • 24:52 – Growth of sports reminiscence and baseball therapy
  • 27:53 – Any involvement with Major League Baseball, teams or players
  • 30:53 – Importance of baseball and my life
Jon Leonoudakis

Jon is an award-winning producer, multimedia innovator, and baseball historian with over 30 years of experience in the entertainment industry working with clients like Disney, Pixar, and Universal Studios.

Since 2018, Jon has led “BasebALZ”, a reminiscence therapy program from the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR) in partnerships with Alzheimer’s Los Angeles, the Veteran’s Administration, and Alzheimer’s San Diego. Jon is also the chair for SABR’s Baseball Memories group, whose mission is to initiate more baseball reminiscences therapy programs led by their membership in chapters around the USA.

Learn More