Taking care of our bodies is an important part of staying healthy at every stage of life. That includes taking care of our minds as well, and that is especially crucial as we age. That’s because the risk of developing dementia and other mental health issues increases as we get older and our cognitive functioning declines.
In fact, the incidence of dementia doubles every 5 years after the age of 65. However, while increased age is one of the main risk factors for developing dementia, there are certain steps you can take to limit your risk. In this article, we’ll focus on brain fitness for seniors.
Simple Exercises To Promote Brain Fitness for Older Adults
Keeping your brain active and engaged is essential to ensuring it remains as healthy as possible for as long as possible. Here are some simple exercises for seniors to help keep their minds fit and functioning at their highest capacity:
- Start a Puzzle – Puzzles can help keep your mind sharp as you search for certain shapes and images that form a larger picture. This involves using visual-spatial skills to see and remember which pieces fit into similarly shaped pieces.
- Play Online Games – There are many different games that are free and easy to play that can help seniors with cognitive functioning. Games like Words With Friends, Wordle, and Scrabble all activate critical and creative thinking, helping to keep your mind active and engaged.
- Complete Crossword Puzzles – Another simple exercise that benefits your brain is completing crossword puzzles. This is a simple and fun option that is already a part of many people’s daily routines, but still helps to activate your brain as you search for the correct answer based on the clues given.
- Dance – This is a great way to keep your brain and body active at the same time. Consider learning new dances to activate your mind as you learn and remember the new steps.
- Start a Project – Another easy way to activate your brain is by starting a project. This usually requires critical thinking skills about how you will accomplish the task, and can involve things like building a model or undertaking a knitting project.
Additionally, there are apps and other brain fitness programs for seniors that can help to keep your mind engaged and operating at optimal capacity. It’s a matter of figuring out what exercises work for you, your lifestyle, and your specific situation. No matter what you choose, taking any action to keep your brain fit will be beneficial.
At Celebrate Senior Living, we are committed to celebrating the moments, victories, and memories that will last a lifetime for our residents and their loved ones. We are a Midwest-based foundation that serves Illinois and Indiana residents by offering Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Skilled Nursing living options. We also provide three delicious, healthy meals a day to ensure our residents get the nutrients they need!
If you or a loved one are interested in senior living options, schedule a tour with us today! You can also learn more by exploring our communities, which include South Holland, Niles, and Fort Wayne, or by contacting us with any other questions!