Ready to boost your cognitive health with engaging brain games for seniors designed to improve memory, focus, and problem-solving skills? You can start now!
You know how frustrating it can be: you bump into someone you haven’t seen in a while, and you just can’t come up with their name. Or you realize you forgot to make a reservation for dinner, or even to let your friends know what time to meet you. And where are your car keys?
Take heart. If you were a marathon runner in your youth, you might be doing shorter runs now…but that doesn’t mean you aren’t out there getting the benefits of exercise and fresh air. It’s the same with the brain.
How aging affects the brain
Aging of course brings about changes to the entire body. The brain is no different. Certain parts of the brain grow smaller, and communication between neurons may not be as effective as it once was. That’s why some older adults may not do as well as a younger person on tests that involve memory or learning.
However, if an older adult is given enough time to learn a new task, they can perform it just as well.
The key to maintaining good brain health is maintaining a healthy lifestyle—no smoking, no heavy drinking, staying physically active, eating healthy meals, and most definitely, participating in activities that stimulate the brain. In other words, brain games for seniors, including memory games for seniors and matching games, can help keep the brain sharp.
Related: 5 Therapeutic Benefits of Music: Seniors Singing and Playing Instruments
Another strong factor in brain health is feeling a sense of belonging, whether it’s a group of friends you see regularly, fellow church members, family, a walking club, or just a daily chat with neighbors. It’s a very big reason why senior living can be so good for you: healthy socializing!
Related: The Importance of Socialization for Seniors and How Senior Living Can Help
Brain games for seniors: work your brain and have fun at the same time
Just as regular exercise can help prevent loss of muscle, brain games for seniors, memory games for seniors, matching games and more can help sharpen the mind and improve thinking skills. But it’s important to keep changing things up. For instance, if you’ve been doing the same crossword puzzle every morning, that’s great. Just don’t stop there.
Add something else, like a board game, an online video game, or invite friends over to play cards once a week. Here are some other options for a fun and effective mental workout:
1. Jigsaw puzzles
There’s a reason why seniors love working on jigsaw puzzles. It’s not only a calming, rewarding way to spend some time either alone or with friends, it’s a great workout for reasoning and memory. Studies verify that doing a puzzle can improve concentration, visual-spatial reasoning, short-term memory, and problem-solving. Besides, it’s a lot of fun—especially when you find just the piece you were looking for!
2. Sudoku
Number puzzles are a great way to exercise the brain. In fact, research shows that the more times you do a number puzzle throughout the day, the stronger the effect it has on your brain. Its main benefit is how it forces you to think a few moves in advance, which is a good workout for the brain.
3. Memory games
Playing trivia games can be a fun way to spend an afternoon or evening, especially if there’s a group of friends participating. Topics can include history, music, art, literature, sports, movies and any other topic you choose. Like most memory games for seniors, this is an activity that not only benefits the person whose turn it is, but also anyone else who most likely is trying to come up with the answer as well. A great way to get those neurons firing!
4. Matching games
Simple, but can be lots of fun for the whole family and a good way to exercise the parts of the brain that involve object recognition and visual pattern matching. Simply place rows of cards face down. Each player turns over two at a time. If the cards match, they are removed. If not, they are both turned down and the game continues.
AARP Staying Sharp offers a wide variety of online matching games, as well as many other types of games that are great ways to have fun and exercise your noggin at the same time. Computerized games such as these have been shown to help enhance the brain’s ability to focus, juggle multiple tasks, remember information, and quickly respond to directions.
5. Chess and Checkers
Whether you are playing on a real board or online, these longtime favorites are actually quite therapeutic for the brain’s ability to strategize, solve problems, anticipate moves and organize. Plus, it’s a wonderful way to socialize with friends and family, especially grandchildren.
Brain games for seniors are a great way to promote brain health
As a resident of St. Mark Village, you benefit from being surrounded by interesting, caring people who share your desire for wellness and longevity. Here, you will find what you need for the good life you deserve: companionship, inspiration, nutrition and fitness, mental stimulation and much more. Plus, the reassurance of seamless access to future care options. Come see what we mean!
Related: Aging Well in Senior Living
Take our Lifestyle Quiz to help discover what matters most to you in senior living or contact us. We’d love to hear from you and tell you more about our community, offering seamless access to future health care options.
