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Cognitive health is something that we tend to take for granted, but it’s what allows us to think clearly, learn, and remember. These are all important in our everyday function, but as we age and our bodies begin to change, our brains change as well. Some parts of the brain, including those used in learning and other complicated mental activities, begin to shrink. Blood flow in the brain may decrease, and communication between neurons may become less effective. Even in healthy older adults, these changes can begin to affect our cognitive function, making us slower to recall names and remember words, causing us to struggle with multitasking and diminishing our ability to pay attention. In people with Alzheimer’s or dementia, this loss of cognitive abilities is progressive.
While there isn’t a cure for cognitive decline yet, studies indicate there may be a link between brain games and improving cognitive abilities. The research may be inconclusive, but more medical experts are recommending brain games to slow down or prevent senior memory loss. Just as physical exercise keeps your body in shape, certain games and puzzles can keep your brain active and healthy.
Many seniors experience an age-related mental decline with slower reaction times, diminished vocabulary and a memory that isn’t as sharp as it used to be. This is all par for the course of living a long, happy life. However, brain games and active learning can help reengage and improve a person’s thinking skills. It’s especially helpful if you vary the games played to promote learning new skills, words or trivia facts.
Wondering what to do with an aging loved one in your care? Try playing a brain game the whole family can enjoy. Not only will you be giving their brain health a boost, but you’ll also get the chance to connect with your loved one in a meaningful way. You can include a wider network of friends and family by connecting through a video chat app on your smartphone or tablet while playing online brain games.
Finishing a crossword puzzle or playing a board game can help ease feelings of stress or anxiety. Playing games is good for the mind and soul, as it keeps people socially active with friends, family or others in their community. Being more social helps eliminate or reduce the feelings of loneliness or depression many seniors face. Who couldn’t benefit from a boost in their brain health, mood and social skills?
You’re never too old to learn a new skill or master a new game. Finding new hobbies as we age is essential to our mental and physical health. If quilting, gardening or photography aren’t quite your senior loved one’s speed, consider helping them explore a new language through the many learning apps on your smartphone or tablet. You can also try your hand at helping them learn a new brain game. Staying in a routine encourages passive brain participation. If we never push our boundaries and develop new cognitive skills, we may start to feel a disconnect with the world around us.
If you want to stay young at heart, the secret is finding new ways to test your cognitive abilities. It’s incredible how games that encourage active learning can make people feel younger and smarter while combating the feelings of boredom, restlessness or isolation plaguing today’s seniors. Whether it’s an online version of Jeopardy! or a simple game of match the cards, you can’t go wrong with games.
You may be wondering what’s categorized as a brain game when purchasing gifts for aging loved ones. The truth is that, while just about any game is better than being sedentary and watching television, not every game is effective for slowing cognitive decline. There are a number that allow you to stretch your brain, including:
A classic game of strategy, chess helps build logical reasoning and problem-solving skills. It may initially seem complicated, but learning how to play can strengthen cognitive function, increasing IQ and focus. Chess can be played in person or online.
Recent research indicates that regularly playing checkers is connected to larger brain volume and improved cognitive health. Checkers can help improve hand-eye coordination, increase mental acuity, and alleviate stress. Because you play with other people, it can also help provide positive social interaction.
Scrabble is beneficial for every age group, but particularly for older adults, because it improves memory functions, lowers blood pressure and increases overall general wellbeing. It can be educational, too, because there are sometimes words you and your loved one didn’t previously know.
There is evidence to suggest that playing games focused on language(Opens in a new window) may lead to improvements in memory, cognitive speed and verbal learning. These games include crosswords, word searches, anagrams, cryptograms, branded games like Mad Libs and online games like the recently released Wordle.
Card games help people practice skills like reasoning, problem solving, memory and concentration. Card games can be played with a standard deck of cards or may have cards specific for the game, like Uno.
By testing short-term memory and the ability to remember patterns, matching and memory games engage the brain, activating areas related to recall and pattern recognition. Try a card matching game, or a memory game like listing the months of the year in alphabetical order or listing things that start with a certain letter.
Playing trivia games can be an entertaining experience while also stimulating older adults’ minds. These games can be played as individual or on teams, and the topics and methods of playing can be modified to meet the needs of the people playing. Team trivia and Trivial Pursuit are two examples of fun trivia games.
There are many treatments in the works for people with Alzheimer’s and/or dementia, including new medication and deep brain stimulation. While these treatments show a lot of promise, science has not yet found a cure for these debilitating conditions. There is evidence to indicate, however, that stimulating the brain using certain games can be helpful.
Recently, research was reviewed on the role of games in dementia care, looking at board games, video games, and virtual reality games. The review concluded that when people in the early and middle stages of dementia played these games, they saw improvement in a variety of cognitive abilities, including short-term memory, reaction time, problem solving, communication and logical reasoning. More research is needed, but there are some games believed to support a wide variety of cognitive skills for people with dementia.
When choosing brain games for adults with dementia, it is important to select games suitable for the individual’s cognitive abilities and preferences, carefully creating simple, familiar and non-frustrating experiences. Examples of games and activities for seniors with dementia include:
As stated earlier, games focused on language can improve memory, speed and verbal learning. For people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, research suggests that playing these games can lead to improvements not only seen through cognitive testing but also through neurophysical tests.
Working on a jigsaw puzzle is a fun way to work on memory and reasoning skills. Jigsaw puzzles come in a variety of difficulties, from simple, easy-to-piece-together puzzles to more complicated puzzles that require quite a bit of hand-eye coordination and memory recall. This makes it easy to choose a puzzle appropriate for a person’s abilities.
Dice games often have a central component of luck, but they are good for helping people with dementia practice numerical and calculation skills. Brain-stimulating dice games include backgammon, kismet, liar’s dice, shut the box and Yahtzee.
Card games, as mentioned above, can boost skills like reasoning, problem solving, memory, and concentration. Since these skills are often in decline in people with dementia, they can be extremely beneficial. Matching games like go fish, trick-taking games like bridge, and even solitaire variations can be good for people with dementia.
Board games use a premade board with game pieces and often elements like cards and dice. One recent study found that a higher frequency of playing board games between ages 70 and 79 resulted in less cognitive decline. Good board games to try include Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, Ticket to Ride, Cranium and chess.
Whether traditional desktop games, game systems like Wii and Switch, or cell phone and tablet games, research supports the theory that these games can enhance cognitive function in older adults, improving visual recognition, visual memory and attention. Tetris, Candy Crush Saga, Animal Crossing, Wii Sports, and mobile or app versions of classic word games, puzzles and board games can all be beneficial.
At BrightStar Care®, we take a unique approach to caring for older adults by pairing our unmatched clinical expertise with key education resources to help and empower families. BrightStar Care helps families meet the physical, mental, and emotional needs of an older relative by providing excellence in home health care.
Seniors Helping Seniors In-Home Care Recognizes Alzheimers and Brain Awareness MonthSeniors Helping Seniors Southwestern PA in-home care underscores the importance of compassionate support for those living with Alzheimers and the families who care for them. PITTSBURGH, PA June marks Alzheimers and Brain Awareness Month, a time to shine a light on the more than 7 million Americans currently living with Alzheimers or other forms of dementia a number projected to nearly double by 2050. In honor of this important month, Seniors Helping Seniors Southwestern PA in-home care is raising awareness about the role compassionate in-home care can play in improving the quality of life for those affected by the disease. According to the 2024 Alzheimers Disease Facts and Figures report, nearly 12 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimers and other dementias. These caregivers often experience high levels of emotional, physical and financial stress. Seniors Helping Seniors in-home care offers relief through peer-based, non-medical services designed to help seniors remain safely and comfortably in their homes while easing the responsibilities placed on caregivers. Our mission is to provide support, dignity and companionship to seniors including those facing memory challenges, said C.J. Girod, President of Seniors Helping Seniors Southwestern PA. By matching seniors who need care with active, compassionate older adults, we create a connection that enhances quality of life for both the caregiver and the care recipient. Seniors Helping Seniors in-home care provides flexible support with tasks such as meal preparation, transportation, medication reminders, light housekeeping and, perhaps most importantly, companionship a service that can be especially meaningful for those navigating memory loss. With new treatments for Alzheimers emerging and awareness on the rise, we believe its vital to offer families the support they need to navigate this journey, said Namrata Yocom-Jan, president of Seniors Helping Seniors in-home care. We are proud to be part of the care solution, providing personalized, respectful services that promote dignity and connection. ABOUT SENIORS HELPING SENIORS: Seniors Helping Seniors franchise system was founded by husband-and-wife duo Kiran and Philip Yocom. Kiran, who grew up in India, later worked to advance humanitarian efforts alongside Mother Teresa. After moving to the U.S. in 1995 and marrying her husband Philip, the Yocoms felt called to provide loving care to seniors and to cultivate an exchange of gifts at every generational level. Together, the Yocoms founded Seniors Helping Seniors in-home services in 1998, opening the brand up to franchising in 2006. With a mission to be the most respected and rewarding home care provider in the U.S., Seniors Helping Seniors locations stand apart from competitors as the only company that prioritizes hiring active seniors to provide care services to their less-active counterparts. Seniors Helping Seniors service aligns caregivers and care recipients based on the abilities and needs of both by offering a wide range of care services. Seniors Helping Seniors network has grown to 400 territories nationwide and over 200 franchise partners in 37 states. For more information on Seniors Helping Seniors in-home care, visit https://seniorshelpingseniors.com/.
Even the healthiest individuals can be quick to complain theyre not thinking as fast as they once did. Words and names may not come to mind as readily. And learning new tasks could become more of a challenge. Perhaps youve witnessed this in an aging loved one. Or maybe youre seeing it in yourself.Common causes or problems with memory or thinking abilities may include medication side-effects, problems with hormones, infections, or damage to brain neurons.While research findings remain inconclusive, more scientists are studying the benefits of brain fitness games for older adults including those with dementia.Downloadable AppsThere are a lot of apps and other tools on the market that claim to help with memory training. From an app store, you can download apps of their favorite game shows, such as Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune and Family Feud.Need More? 5 Free Brain Training Apps for Older AdultsThese brain games might be great for your loved one to do alone or with you or other family members. Check out additional ideas at Very Well Mind.1. Luminosity: Over three billion games have been played by more than 85 million peopleCreated by more than 100 researchers from around the globe and launched in 2007, this was one of the first apps in the brain-training empire. They help older adults by providing exercises devised to improve five areas of cognitive function: problem-solving, memory, attention, speed and flexibility.2. Peak: Short, intense workouts plus a virtual coach to track your progressIs your older adult looking for something quick? Why not try mini games, which push you hard with short, intense workouts. These mental gymnastics help boost memory, problem-solving, concentration, language and more. Utilizing research from scientists from prestigious universities like Cambridge and Yale, Peak was rated by Google in 2016 as one of the best Android apps.3. Elevate: One of iPhone's best apps in past decadeElevate can set older adults up with daily entertaining-yet-challenging games to help build communication and analytical abilities. Their mini games are geared toward strengthening focus, memory, reading comprehension and other cognitive skills.4. Cognifit Brain Fitness: Brain games and moreWhat stands out in this app designed by neuroscientists are its specific programs to stimulate or rehabilitate brain function in people with conditions like dementia, Alzheimers, Parkinsons, multiple sclerosis, brain injuries and more. If you or your senior thrive on social interaction (which also can help keep your brain healthy), you can challenge friends and see how you rank in real-time monitoring.5. Braingle: Free website that provides more than 15,000 puzzles, games and brain teasersBraingle is a place to solve puzzles, brush up on your trivia, play games and give your brain a workout. Braingle has a wide variety of offerings, including optical illusions, codes and ciphers, and trivia quizzes. You can even create your own puzzles to give your brain a super workout.While technology may be beneficial, so too is one-on-one contact with others and the personal relationships that result. Reach out to Home Instead to learn more about how trained Care Professionals provide companionship to older adults.
Starting your day with brain exercises is one of the most effective ways to maintain cognitive health, improve memory, and enhance mental agility. Just like physical exercise strengthens the body, mental exercises help keep the brain sharp, reducing the risk of cognitive decline and boosting overall productivity. By engaging in simple yet effective activities each morning, you can stimulate neural connections, improve focus, and set a positive tone for the rest of the day. One of the most powerful ways to enhance cognitive function is through mindful meditation. Practicing mindfulness for just a few minutes each morning helps reduce stress, improve concentration, and enhance memory retention. It allows the brain to enter a relaxed yet focused state, promoting better emotional regulation and decision-making skills. Research has shown that regular meditation can even lead to long-term changes in brain structure, increasing grey matter density in areas responsible for learning and memory. Engaging in mentally stimulating activities such as puzzles, chess, or brain-training apps is another effective way to activate different areas of the brain. These activities improve problem-solving skills, encourage critical thinking, and enhance memory. Dedicating just 10 to 15 minutes each morning to solving crossword puzzles or playing logic-based games can significantly strengthen cognitive flexibility and mental sharpness. Physical exercise also plays a crucial role in maintaining brain health. Activities like stretching, yoga, or even a brisk morning walk increase blood flow to the brain, delivering oxygen and essential nutrients that support cognitive function. Exercise has been linked to the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that promotes the growth of new neurons and enhances memory. Movements that require coordination, such as dancing, are particularly effective in improving brain plasticity and boosting cognitive resilience. Writing is another powerful brain-boosting activity that enhances memory recall, sharpens language skills, and improves problem-solving abilities. Journaling or expressive writing in the morning allows you to organize your thoughts, set goals, and express emotions, which can reduce stress and enhance mental clarity. Research suggests that writing by hand activates areas of the brain associated with learning and comprehension, making it an excellent exercise for cognitive health. Challenging the brain with new information every morning also helps stimulate neural connections and strengthen mental agility. Whether its reading an article, learning a new word, practicing a foreign language, or even picking up a musical instrument, acquiring new knowledge supports long-term brain health. Studies have shown that lifelong learning reduces the risk of age-related cognitive decline and improves problem-solving skills. Another effective mental exercise is visualization, which involves mentally picturing a task, goal, or scene to enhance cognitive function. Mental mappingsuch as visualizing your daily route, the layout of your home, or a specific environment in detailcan strengthen spatial awareness and memory. This practice also enhances problem-solving abilities and fosters creativity, making it a valuable technique for boosting cognitive performance. Incorporating these brain exercises into your morning routine can have long-lasting benefits for cognitive health. The brain is most receptive to stimulation in the morning when it is well-rested and free from distractions. By prioritizing mental fitness through activities like meditation, puzzles, physical exercise, writing, learning, and visualization, you can boost productivity, enhance focus, and promote overall well-being. Consistently practicing these habits trains the brain to remain agile, resilient, and efficient, helping you stay mentally sharp throughout life.
BrightStar Care of Venice and Port Charlotte is dedicated to providing the best in-home care for you or a loved one. We are a Nurse Owned and Family Operated Private Duty Home Care Agency offering Companion Services (meal prep, transportation, light housekeeping), Personal Care (bathing, dressing, transfers), and Skilled Care (assessments, medication management, med box fills). We also provide Medical Staffing. BrightStar Care is Joint Commission Accredited and Awarded Leader in Excellence, Provider of Choice and Employer of Choice 2016 - 2020 by Home Care Pulse. All caregivers are background checked, drug tested, bonded and insured. We are available 24/7...Just a phone call away!
BrightStar Care of Venice and Port Charlotte is dedicated to providing the best in-home care for you or a loved one. We are a Nurse Owned and Family Operated Private Duty Home Care Agency offering Companion Services (meal prep, transportation, light housekeeping), Personal Care (bathing, dressing, transfers), and Skilled Care (assessments, medication management, med box fills). We also provide Medical Staffing. BrightStar Care is Joint Commission Accredited and Awarded Leader in Excellence, Provider of Choice and Employer of Choice 2016 - 2020 by Home Care Pulse. All caregivers are background checked, drug tested, bonded and insured. We are available 24/7...Just a phone call away!
Dedicated In-Home Care by BrightStar Care of Venice and Port CharlotteBrightStar Care of Venice and Port Charlotte is dedicated to providing the best in-home care for you or a loved one. We are a Nurse Owned and Family Operated Private Duty Home Care Agency, offering a range of services to meet your needs:Companion Services: Meal preparation, transportation, light housekeepingPersonal Care: Bathing, dressing, transfersSkilled Care: Assessments, medication management, med box fillsMedical Staffing: Providing professional healthcare staff for various needsBrightStar Care is Joint Commission Accredited and has been recognized as a Leader in Excellence, Provider of Choice, and Employer of Choice from 2016 to 2020 by Home Care Pulse. All our caregivers are background checked, drug tested, bonded, and insured.We are available 24/7 and just a phone call away, ready to provide reliable and compassionate care whenever you need it.