Silver Minds, LLC is a brain health and wellness company dedicated to helping seniors maintain cognitive vitality, independence, and quality of life. By combining evidence-based neurocognitive training, executive function assessments, socialization, nutrition guidance, and holistic physical practices such as mindful movement, yoga and tai chi, Silver Minds delivers a unique and comprehensive approach to aging well
Elsa Sorley, the beloved mother of Silver Minds’ founder Gwen Sorley, was a woman whose life radiated joy, warmth, and connection. Gwen, the youngest of Elsa’s four daughters, grew up watching her mother create a world filled with laughter, celebration, and love. Elsa had a gift for making people feel welcome whether hosting a Scrabble game, planning themed parties, or opening the Sunburst Tea Garden in her backyard, which became a beloved community gathering place.
Born in Akron, Ohio, on October 9, 1932, Elsa arrived in the midst of the Great Depression but would always insist, “It didn’t affect us one bit.” Surrounded by a big, joyful family, she learned early that happiness came not from wealth but from connection. That cheerful spirit stayed with her through her 93 years of life, which she often summed up in her later years with a heartfelt refrain: “I’ve had a good life, great friends, and a wonderful family.”
Elsa’s greatest adventure was life with her husband James, a devoted minister, whom she married and “lovingly organized” for 52 years. Together, they raised four daughters and traveled widely, creating a home filled with warmth, laughter, and community. Even in retirement, Elsa continued to bring people together, earning the unofficial title of “Mayor of Essex” in her beloved New York town.
But after James passed away and her closest friends were gone, Elsa’s world grew quieter. Though she lived in a nice retirement community, bingo and short excursions weren’t enough to stimulate a woman who had once been a force of nature. Her sharp mind began to dim, and she slipped into cognitive decline—something she initially resisted, but eventually accepted, deciding in her own graceful way that it was time to “join James and her dear friends for happy hour.”
For Gwen, watching her vibrant, spirited mother slowly lose the stimulation and social connection she had always thrived on was heartbreaking. She vowed no other family should have to watch their loved one fade this way when there is so much that can be done to enrich lives, preserve vitality, and nurture connection.
Silver Minds was born from this vow. It is Gwen’s tribute to Elsa’s incredible life and spirit, and a promise to provide every senior with opportunities for cognitive vitality, friendship, and dignity. Elsa built spaces where joy and community flourished. Silver Minds carries that legacy forward ensuring no senior ever feels forgotten, unstimulated, or alone.
Silver Minds was born from that vow, and with it, The Elsa Foundation—a nonprofit created to ensure no senior is ever turned away from care because of financial hardship. The Foundation stands as a living tribute to Elsa’s incredible spirit: her love of laughter, her devotion to family, and her gift for building community. Through its support, every senior has the chance to live with dignity, connection, and cognitive vitality, carrying Elsa’s legacy forward for generations to come.
