Activities For Aging Adults That Promote Brain Health
Activities For Aging Adults That Promote Brain Health
The body has to age, but increasingly, science is showing that the brain has the ability to stay youthful in terms of memory and cognitive function. It does take a bit of effort, but it’s not as hard as you might think. In fact, with a little imagination, everyday fun and enjoyable activities can keep you as sharp as the best minds out there.
Live in Your Body
As we age, too many seniors tend to spend too much time sitting and lying down in bed. That phrase, “use it or lose it” is truer than you know. Brain health isn’t all about thinking and puzzling. You also need to keep your body in good physical condition for optimal brain health, so start paying attention to your body.
Of course, all the following physical activities should only be done with the approval of your physician, which is where CDS providers can be very helpful, supporting caregivers as they handle the administrative side of helping to care for you.
Swim
Swimming is one of the best physical activities for seniors because of its gentle resistance. Avoid going in over your head and you’ll feel safe and relaxed enough to try out some gentle swim moves or pool exercises.
Chair Dance
If mobility is an issue, try chair dancing. Play a tune that gets your foot tapping and “dance” along with your arms in the air, legs moving along merrily and head bobbing in rhythm to the beat.
Stand Instead of Sit
Try standing up to watch TV for at least two to five minutes every hour. Stand up when conversing with friends. Try incorporating standing up time as much as is comfortable during the day. Your legs will strengthen and your brain will thank you.
Use Your Words
Anything involving the use of vocabulary, language skills and other types of word games helps to keep neural networks buzzing with connections.
Learn a New Language
Brain cells grow when new learning takes place, and what better way to put your brain through its paces than by learning a new language? It doesn’t have to cost a thing to get personalized, step-by-step help to learn the language of your choice. Download a free app on a phone or tablet and choose from many languages for a new way to communicate.
Play Scrabble
Those friends who are always inviting you to play Scrabble with them have a secret: Scrabble supports brain health. Constantly searching your brain for new words to form with tiles keeps the brain working hard.
Do Word Searches
If you prefer solitary word games, do a word search puzzle online or on paper. These get easier the more you play, and you have the satisfaction of knowing you’re working on your brain health simultaneously.
Read
Read news articles, magazines and, of course, books. Or grab a newspaper, not totally a thing of the past, from the market. Or don’t spend a dime; you can find them all for free through your local public library and by connecting your library card to the Libby app.
Get Social
For social butterflies, being social may be a lifelong trait. But those who prefer their own company may need a nudge to join others for social occasions. Does it help to learn that those who have at least one social interaction daily live longer? It should! Here are some simple ideas to live more sociably.
Get a Walking Buddy
A walking buddy is important for many reasons, safety being one of them. But walking along and talking as you go also counts a lot toward developing a sense of belonging, something our human selves crave.
Call Someone
Pick up the phone once every few days and make a call to a friend or family member. You don’t have to have big news to share; you can be the listener, or you can talk about your day-to-day things. You might even have a laugh or two. Social interactions – even just a call – boost brain and heart health.
Try Pickleball
You’ve resisted long enough. Surely the pickleball craze has come to your town by now, and it’s time to get a paddle in your hands. This outdoor game is known for being senior-friendly. Not a lot of running and jumping is needed to excel. Once you learn, you’ll have people knocking down your door to “come out and play.”
Turn on Chat
If you’re a fan of online gaming, be it mahjong or something else, consider turning on the chat feature so you can chit-chat with others while you play. Be sure to turn on the safety features for better enjoyment, such as blocking foul language.
Life is about getting out there and doing and seeing it all; having a healthy brain makes it more enjoyable. Start implementing one or more of these ideas into your routine and feel the difference it makes.
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Thank You to Our Guest Writer:
Daniel Mann, Chief Executive Officer of HomeTeam
Author bio: Daniel Mann is the Chief Executive Officer of HomeTeam, a Missouri-based provider of Consumer Directed Services (CDS) and ‑in-home care solutions that empower individuals to choose their own caregivers while HomeTeam ‑ manages payroll, training, compliance, and care coordination. Daniel has been with the company since May 2022, focusing on driving the company’s strategic growth, ensuring high-quality care delivery, and expanding access to personalized, community-based support for Missourians in need.
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