When we are mentally and physically stimulated, we are more engaged, energized and enthused, regardless of age. Brain fitness regimes are becoming a standard of care in senior residential communities, largely due to studies linking these activities to better memory and attention, as well as faster information-processing skills that can deteriorate with aging. One study of more than 5,500 participants aged 65 years or older concluded that stimulating leisure activities were significantly associated with a reduced risk of dementia. Another found that older adults who were cognitively inactive were 2.6 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than those who often participated in mentally stimulating activities.
Both mental and physical stimulation is important to overall brain fitness. Age-appropriate aerobic exercise improves the heart, preserves bone strength, lowers blood pressure and relieves depression and anxiety.
That’s why it’s important for you to evaluate what kind of brain fitness activities are available at any senior care community you are considering for yourself or a loved one. Look for activities like these to build and maintain brain fitness:
1. Jigsaw and crossword puzzles
Puzzles help seniors activate memory and sharpen logic skills. Experts say that the best way to exercise your mind with a jigsaw puzzle is to do it ‘blind.’ This means not referring back to the picture on the box while trying to put the puzzle together.
2. Cards, bingo, brain teasers and trivia games
All these activities stimulate the brain; trivia games are good at helping seniors to remember and to use that knowledge for fun and friendly competition. Some senior communities develop their own trivia questions by asking residents to submit questions and answers and having someone serve as a host to ask the questions. This is a fun way to get residents interacting with each other.
3. Artistic/craft activities
Look for senior care communities that provide opportunities for painting, drawing, working with clay or putty and other activities that engage the artistic part of the brain.
4. Story telling
This is a powerful group activity that helps create a sense of community and belonging among senior care residents. It entails seniors sharing and documenting their life story and memories.
5. Community service
Many seniors have spent years volunteering their time and skills. A good senior residence will partner with local community groups such as the Boy Scouts or hospital groups. These sorts of activities are tremendously satisfying for seniors and help them retain a sense of purpose and a feeling of connectedness to the larger outside community.
6. Cooking classes
Cooking combines both cognitive and physical activity - mixing, measuring, peeling, dicing - and is an activity that many seniors enjoy.
7. Walking groups
Look for safe walking paths within a senior community. Walking helps build stronger bones and improves balance and coordination. Many communities organize walking groups, which add an important social element to the activity.
8. Strength training
This activity helps maintain upper body strength, which tends to decline with age. Make sure the senior community supervises strength training to ensure proper technique and appropriate weight selection.
9.Yoga
Yoga is a great low-impact exercise option that provides a moderate cardio workout, increases flexibility and both strengthens and tones the entire body. It also helps relieve stress, a key to improving the quality of life for seniors in care communities.
Exercising the brain should be an everyday part of the older adult’s to-do list. When seeking a senior care residential community, carefully assess what types of brain fitness activities are available.
What things are important to you? Share them in the comments below.
