Many people want to improve their memory and mental abilities, and doing daily brain exercises is an excellent way to do this. Just as physical exercise strengthens muscles, mental training can help improve memory and how the brain works. And with the help of loved ones and home care, seniors will consistently have the encouragement to participate in these activities or have someone to do them with them. Some of the best brain exercises seniors can do daily to help them remember things are listed below.
Helping Seniors Find the Right Brain Exercises
Many activities or exercises might benefit the brain, but finding the right one for seniors might take time. It’s important to include them in the conversation and keep an open mind about how they feel about each one. It’s also essential to consider if they can continue the activity consistently. Thankfully, with a good support system like home care by their side, they can often get the consistency they need.
- Reading: Reading often is a great way to keep the brain in shape. It gets the mind working, helps seniors learn new words, and makes concentrating easier. Encourage seniors to read a wide range of things, like books, newspapers, magazines, and online articles, to keep their brains from getting bored. Seniors with vision issues can try audible books or use an app that allows them to increase the font size.
- Problem-solving and memory games: Crossword and word games like word hunts, anagrams, and crossword puzzles are great ways to improve memory. These tasks require seniors to focus, remember and change words, which can help them sharpen their language skills and make their minds more flexible. Also, seniors can play classic card games like “Simon” and “Concentration” online or with real cards. They can also find games on apps and websites that help improve their memory. Sites like AARP have games that seniors can easily access.
- Learn something new: Doing things they’ve never done can help their brain work better and improve their memory. Seniors can start a new hobby, learn to play an instrument, take a dance class, or learn a foreign language. Learning new skills makes new links between neurons and helps the brain grow. Home care aides and loved ones can help seniors find options in their community or online.
- Mnemonic techniques: These include visualizing, associating, and creating acronyms to help seniors remember better. It helps if they can come up with the connections themselves.
- Mindfulness and meditation: Knowing their surroundings and meditating can help their memory and brain work better. These techniques help them relax, reduce stress, and improve their ability to concentrate and pay attention. Gray matter, linked to memory and learning, is also thought to increase through regular meditation.
- Social interaction: Seniors need to do things with other people, which is one reason why having home care is critical, especially when seniors have mobility issues. Socializing with other people regularly keeps the brain active, improves memory, and lowers the chance of cognitive decline.
These are just a few brain exercises seniors can do consistently. It’s a good idea to have several on the list so they don’t get bored from doing the same one all the time. With the support of loved ones and their home care team, seniors can keep their brains healthy and boost their memory.
Sources:
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/wellness/a43068545/brain-exercises-for-memory/
https://www.forbes.com/health/healthy-aging/brain-exercises/
https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/features/brain-exercises-seniors
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Watertown, MA, please contact the caring staff at PlatinumCare + today. Call (617) 237-0867.
PlatinumCare + was born out of the desire and passion to provide the very best home health care possible in Brookline, Dover, Newton, Needham, Watertown, Weston, Cambridge, Lincoln, Sudbury, Belmont, Boston MA, and surrounding areas.
All with decades of experience, Tim in IT Operations, Support, and Management, Brenda in Client Relations, Healthcare Services & Sales Management, and Anne in Healthcare as a Nurse Practitioner combined their skills to form what is now PlatinumCare +.
As immigrants to the US, all came from backgrounds where Healthcare for aging parents was a responsibility of the immediate family and the entire community. Aging, sick, or terminal community members were cared for physically, emotionally, and financially by family, friends, including strangers! This community approach, Healthcare with a difference, delivered with the utmost love, care, sacrifice, and passion, forms the basis of how PlatinumCare + grounds itself.
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