A healthy mind is proven to sustain brain function alongside preserving memories. Committing to a healthy diet and carrying out mental exercises may help to sustain a healthy brain. Below you will find three activities that can help to increase your elderly’s brain activities. You can try them out too!
#1 Sudoku
Don’t be surprised if your elderly parent beats you at a game of Sudoku. Sudoku is a standard favourite amongst senior citizens for a reason. It’s a simple puzzle with straightforward rules without any hidden catch. It requires one to squeeze their brain juice in a good way.
Sudoku stimulates the mind by using logical thinking and analyzing abilities. A game of Sudoku can cause a person to be invested until completion, thus contributing to improved concentration skills. The mental stimulation from Sudoku can incentivise elderlies to use parts of their brain that may not be used in everyday life.
The best part of living in the digital age now is that Sudoku games are widely available across various smart devices. If your elderly parents have a smartphone on their hands, they’re pretty much set up for digital sudoku. However, if they’re not comfortable with smart devices, Sudoku templates are widely available for printouts and you can print out some copies for them.
Other benefits of Sudoku include:
- Enhances thinking abilities.
- Improves memory.
- Gives a sense of accomplishment.
- It’s an affordable hobby.
#2 Tai Chi
Physical activities also help improve the elderly’s brain activity. Tai chi is a beginner-friendly martial art that helps the elderly to move without hassle. The movements are calm in nature and focus primarily on improving strength, flexibility and balance.
To achieve balance, focus, and mindfulness are important. On top of brainy goodness, Tai Chi also has some physical health benefits such as lowering blood pressure, improving cardiovascular health, and helping people with arthritis. If your elderly is looking to enroll in a Tai Chi class, you can find activities on your neighborhood forums. Oftentimes, Tai Chi sessions are held over the weekdays in the morning, in a park or a community open space.
Other benefits of Tai Chi include:
- Helps one to feel grounded and relaxed.
- Improves one’s social well-being through a sense of community.
#3 Bingo
When you ask elderlies: What’s your favourite pass time? Their answer most often than not will either be sudoku or bingo and there’s a good reason why. Bingo often involves playing the game in a social setting as it requires more than one player.
It’s a good excuse for the elderly to go outside and socialise. Bingo can be played in the park surrounded by nice fresh air or it can also be played in a cozy area at home. If your elderly is looking to make new friends, you can find community Bingo games on your neighbourhood forums online and enroll them.
Benefits of bingo include:
- Improves cognitive abilities.
- Improves focus.
- Enhances number skills and number recognition.
Keeping the brain sharp during one’s golden years will help you to make the best out of it.
Source: Elder.org, Healthline, Medical News Today
