Boosting Memory: Effective Activities to Keep an Older Adult’s Mind Sharp

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A senior can experience memory loss as a result of dementia or simply because of advancing age. However, there are certain activities that can keep the memory stimulated. No matter what the cause, it’s important to find effective ways to help keep your elderly loved one’s mind sharp.

Encourage Dancing

Seniors who dance often can boost their memory and lower their chances of getting dementia. According to a study featured in the New England Journal of Medicine, dancing is the only physical activity related to a reduced risk of developing dementia. Learning a variety of dance steps can stimulate your loved one’s memory, and moving on the dance floor is also a wonderful cardiovascular workout that can increase blood flow to his or her brain.

If your loved one is living with memory issues due to Alzheimer’s or dementia, having a trained professional caregiver close by can provide you and your family with much-needed peace of mind. Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted senior care provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Assisting Hands Home Care is here to help.

Support Regular Reading

Reading involves using cognition and language, which can exercise a senior’s brain. Research done by Mayo Clinic discovered older people who read either magazines or books were less likely to experience memory loss. Reading any type of material is a cognitive exercise that may also prevent future memory loss.

Convince Your Loved One to Join Facebook

There are many ways your loved one can benefit from using Facebook, including stimulating his or her memory. Connecting with friends and being social can keep your loved one from getting depressed and lower his or her stress levels. Since depression and stress are both known causes of memory loss, trying to reduce these in your loved one’s life can boost his or her memory.

For families living in Phoenix, senior home care can be a wonderful solution when their aging loved ones need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just need minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Assisting Hands Home Care, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home.

Provide Puzzles that Challenge the Mind

Seniors with Alzheimer’s can boost their memory simply by doing puzzles. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Sudoku and crossword puzzles are popular mind exercises that can challenge a senior’s memory and keep his or her brain in shape. Doing these puzzles can also activate your loved one’s mind, keep it sharp and alert, and increase his or her overall cognitive functioning.

If you have a senior loved one who needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of elder care Phoenix families can trust. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia. To create a comprehensive in-home care plan for your loved one, call us today.