How Seniors Can Keep Their Brain Young

Every brain changes with age, and a decline of functionality with cognitive abilities and processes is often inevitable for seniors. Along with the obvious needs of seniors, such as adequate housing and proper access to health care, brain health is increasingly being emphasized as an essential to keeping healthy in old age. Incorporating the right cognitive activities and brain games can even fight off dementia by up to 30%. So with the importance of keeping brains young and functioning, seniors have many options on how they can best stay engaged into their later years.

Ease Daily Stresses

One of the very best ways to keep brains healthy is by ensuring seniors are exposed to limited amounts of stress in their daily lives. This includes having an accessible home in which they can easily move around in and use its facilities with ease. The worry of losing the ability to live independently is common in seniors, and as they lose certain abilities to cope and manage stress, it becomes even more crucial that the home is a comfortable and accessible location. Seniors are encouraged to deal with stress by regular exercise, yoga and other meditation practices, and speaking to family members or caregivers about their concerns and worries. Quite often, the triggers for daily stresses can easily be removed or aided once they are managed effectively.

Engage In Brain Games

Keeping the mind stimulated and engaged is important for all seniors. There have been multiple studies conducted that prove the connection between continuous and regular brain activity and the production of new cells in the brain. Participating in certain puzzles and games then create a rebuilding of the brain, and prevents memory loss. Games such as crosswords, sudoku, wordplays, trivia, chess, and scrabble are all excellent options for seniors. There are also a number of brain games available on tablets or computers designed specifically for seniors.

Build Social Networks

There is a strong link between the health of seniors and their available social networks. Those that socialize and have friendships are less likely to develop dementia, and in return they have lower blood pressure and longer life expectancies. Social networks in long term care, for example, have proven to be extremely beneficial in keeping seniors brains engaged and healthy because of the daily interactions. Encouraging seniors in long term care facilities to leave their room and utilize the social activities planned by staff works well, and making sure they eat with others during planned meal times to promote interactions. Having regular visits with family members has also been proven to be advantageous to brain function and crucial for their support from social networks.

Maintaining brain health and cognitive processes as a senior is certainly just as important as maintaining overall physical health. With the right knowledge and resources, such as access to the correct facilities and long term care, the brain is certainly able to stay lively and youthful well into the senior years.

Information is available from Gott at denise.gott@acsiapartners.com, http://ltcdenise.com or 440-223-5705.

In California, the company is known as xACSIA Partners Insurance Agency; in other states, as ACSIA Partners.

By Karoline Gore