Four Benefits of Playing Brain Games with Your Senior
Staying active and keeping fit is an important way to stay healthy your entire life, and it doesn’t stop when a person reaches a certain point. In fact, with parts of the body starting to naturally decline in some aspects, staying active is even more important than ever. And that goal doesn’t only refer to physical fitness, it also applies to brain fitness and social engagement.
Brain fitness and social engagement are activities that keep the brain strong and fit through various exercises. Improving brain fitness and social engagement should be a goal of every senior.
Four Benefits of Playing Brain Games Besides Brain Fitness and Social Engagement
#1 Reduction in Feelings of Isolation
Joining a game, whether in person or even online, can help your loved one feel like she’s an active participant in the world around her. Games are a great way to connect for those who are more withdrawn or introverted and struggle with making conversation.
A game naturally lets your loved one know when to talk, what move to make next, and how to interact with those around her.
#2 Providing a Sense of Control
If your loved one feels like she doesn’t have a lot of control over her life anymore and everyone is making decisions for her, a game might give her that ability to feel in control for a bit as she strategizes her next move and works toward success.
#3 Boosts Self-Worth
Completing a 1000-piece puzzle or learning and winning a new game can produce feelings of joy and accomplishment, making your senior feel better about herself.
#4 Improves Sleep
A good brain workout can help later with falling asleep. Just don’t do any strenuous brain activities right before bed. Save that time for reading (still a nice workout) and activities that calm the brain and get it ready for rest.
Five Fun Brain Activities for Your Senior to Try
Learn a New Dance
While you might look at dancing as a great way to improve physical fitness, it’s also exceptional for brain fitness and social engagement. Learning a new dance means memorizing steps, applying them to a rhythm, and even adapting to those around you. It engages the brain on many levels.
Follow Some Instructions
While it might seem easy, following directions and instructions can be tough. It requires the person to listen (or read), apply what was just told, and then prepare for the next step.
One way to use this activity could be to listen to a recipe on TV while following along at home. It can also be used when building something like a LEGO set with specific instructions.
Get Lost and Navigate Home
If your senior is still driving, one great way to actively engage the brain is to drive someplace somewhat familiar and then find the way home without any GPS or maps to help. This is a great way for the brain to use memory, spatial reasoning, and problem-solving.
Of course, always have a GPS ready to help if your senior gets too lost.
Relax with a Jigsaw Puzzle
While it’s a very calm physical activity, working on a new jigsaw puzzle keeps that brain working hard behind the scenes. Jigsaw puzzles require visual-spatial working memory skills that keep the brain sharp.
Play a Game of Cards
Playing cards improves brain fitness and social engagement, helping your loved one connect with others and enjoy the benefits of companionship and belonging.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Brain Fitness and Social Engagement in Broomfield, CO, please contact the caring staff at Talem Home Care & Placement Services today. Call (720) 789-8529
At Talem Home Care of Broomfield, we provide passionate, understanding, and flexible caregivers in Broomfield, Arvada, Aurora, Boulder, Brighton, Commerce City, Denver, Erie, Firestone, Lafayette, Lakewood, Longmont, Louisville, Northglenn, Sherrelwood, Thornton, Welby, Westminster, Wheat Ridge and surrounding areas in Colorado.