Brain Stimulating Activities for Aging Seniors

Easy Brain-Stimulating Activities For Seniors Summary:

• Loneliness and isolation can cause physical changes to the brain.
• Think of your aging loved one's brain as a muscle.
• A senior's brain tends to get tired more quickly than younger people.
• The brain needs blood flow, so ensuring your senior loved one eats well, stays hydrated, and sleeps well is essential to keep their mind active.
• Eating nourishing foods helps keep your senior feeling energized. Proper nutrition stimulates parts of the brain that control cognitive function.
• A Visiting Angels in-home caregiver can help your aging loved one keep a healthy brain and become independent as they age.

We always hear the phrase "use it or lose it" when it comes to aging, including brain activity. Not only will a senior's risk for dementia, memory impairment, and stroke increase with age, but loneliness or isolation can cause physical changes to the brain.

But it is not inevitable that a senior's brain will decline, and working to get it sharp will go a long way.

Here is a list of activities and tips stimulating an aging senior's brain.

How Seniors in Littleton, CO Stay Sharp

Your aging loved one's brain isn't a muscle, but it might be helpful to think of it as one. The more it flexes, the better conditioned it will be. That means working through puzzles, word searches, sudoku, or even reading can stimulate the brain throughout the day, giving your senior loved one a better chance at staying sharp, despite aging.

Our home care caregivers can sit with your senior loved ones and work through whatever activity they enjoy while challenging them at times.

Another way to stimulate the brain is through a musical instrument. If a person enjoys music, taking them out to play an instrument can stimulate the mind and release some of that built-up tension.

Since a senior's brain isn't as strong as it used to be, they tend to get tired more quickly than younger people. These activities can be mentally challenging, so considering listening to music, as studies have shown that participating in artistic pursuits can reduce loneliness and depression, increase dexterity, and have cognitive benefits.

Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices

The brain needs blood flow, so ensuring your senior loved one eats well, stays hydrated, and sleeps well is essential to keep their mind active.

Eating nourishing foods will keep your senior feeling energized, and parts of the brain that control cognitive function are stimulated with the proper nutrition. The body also needs enough sleep for the brain to recuperate and repair itself, but be aware of medications that may interfere with sleep.

Other healthy lifestyle choices Harvard Medical advises can slow mental decline include:

• Getting sufficient sleep
  Eating a balanced diet
  Limiting alcohol
  Not smoking
  
  

Always Keep Learning

Although getting older can make it harder to keep up with the latest trends, finding a new hobby or learning something new can keep your aging loved one mentally active and help them grow.

Despite your loved one getting older, their brains can still grow, which is why continued learning is beneficial. Figure out what they enjoy, whether history, learning a new language, playing an instrument, or even taking an art class at a local senior center, can benefit their life.

Keeping Seniors in Littleton, CO Social

Having a good support system is always essential, but for seniors, having close friendships can create an emotional boost that releases endorphins, making their brains more active. Social activities and groups can also help keep a senior's mind busy.

A Visiting Angels in-home caregiver can help your aging loved one keep a healthy brain and become independent as they age.

Schedule a Free In-Home Consultation Today!

Call our main office in Littleton, CO, today to discuss the best ways to keep your loved one active, healthy, and mentally fit with in-home care.