Keeping Elderly Minds Sharp and Active

To stay in line with the last post; as important as it is to eat healthy, it is just as important for elderly adults to stay socially and mentally active!

It is almost a cliché to think about an elderly person sitting in their recliner every day watching their “Soaps”, “Murder She Wrote” or their court room shows for hours on end. This is sometimes what people think of when it comes to the daily activities of an elderly person living independently at home. This would obviously not be healthy and by no means does this happen all of the time. However, it would be easy for someone to get into this habit as it almost gives them an escape from reality and allows them to form “bonds” with characters in the shows. It is critical for them to find other activities to stay happy and healthy and there are many other daily activities that they can do alone or with another person to keep their mind sharp and social skills intact.

It is important for elderly individuals to keep their brains active and alert and learning a new hobby or taking up a craft are both excellent ways for them to do this. These activities help stimulate the brain cells and give the individual a platform to interact with others. Not only can these types of activities provide enjoyment and a sense of positive self-esteem, but they can also help the elderly maintain hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Each of the following hobbies and activities can be modified to fit the needs of each individual which will allow them to still enjoy being a part of things that make them happy even if they have a physical or mental limitation.

There are numerous activities for seniors to enjoy depending upon their interest and abilities and here are just a few ideas:

·         Drawing

·         Painting

·         Knitting

·         Playing music

·         Scrapbooking

·         Photography

While hobbies and crafts are good ways to ensure mental stimulation and socialization, playing games and solving puzzles are fantastic cognitive activities for elder individuals. The following is a list of games and puzzles that can help engage the brain, thus keeping it stimulated and vital:

·         Dominoes

·         Checkers

·         Chess

·         Card Games

·         Scrabble

·         Bingo

·         Crossword Puzzles

·         Word Search

·         Sudoku

All of these hobbies, crafts, games and puzzles will help the elderly keep their minds sharp, active and alert and keep them actively engaged in life. It is, however, important to remember that these cognitive activities should be age appropriate as it is crucial to maintain the individual’s self-esteem and dignity.