Senior Brain Games: Fun, Simple Ways to Stay Sharp Every Day
Brain games can help you stay mentally active in your senior years, improving memory recall, problem-solving, and communication skills. Brain games include chess, crossword puzzles, and memory recall challenges in a group setting.
Exercising the mind has proven to have a profound effect on mental well-being. Research shows that regular brain training can improve key metrics like memory recall.
Read on as we share some easy and fun senior brain games that help you sharpen your cognitive skills when retiring in Three Rivers, MI.
Cognitive Games for Seniors: Word Puzzles
Word puzzles are fantastic for improving language skills. They encourage memory recall, improve vocabulary, and support cognitive function in seniors. Here are some word-themed games that you could try:
- Crosswords
- Word searches
- Anagrams
You can do these alone or in a group. With enough practice, they'll help you stay focused and provide a calming daily routine.
Jigsaw Puzzles
Jigsaw puzzles are a timeless way to relax and enjoy the quiet company of friends. And one of the reasons jigsaw puzzles are excellent for seniors is that they are suitable for all, even those with memory loss.
Jigsaw puzzles work the brain in surprising ways. They help with spatial skills and logical thought processes. But what most people don't realize is that they can also help fight cognitive decline by improving focus and attention to detail.
In other words, they keep you engaged and alert, which is an excellent way to protect your brain in your later years.
Daily Brain Engagement: Card Games
Even if you haven't tried card games before, they are easy to pick up, and the learning process in itself can be an excellent way to exercise the brain. Here are some of the best senior-friendly card games to help improve cognitive skills:
- Rummy
- Bridge
- Solitaire
The advantage of card games is that they sharpen the memory, forcing you to recall the rules for each game. They are also excellent for strategic thinking, as well as improving communication skills when you are playing in a group setting.
Enrichment for Older Adults: Board Games
If you aren't someone who enjoys a game of cards, you might find a traditional board game a more exciting option. Some board games, like chess and Scrabble, can test your brain capability to its limits, so it's ideal for keeping you sharp and mentally alert.
You can also simplify board games, adapting them to be more beginner-friendly or adjusting the rules for those with cognitive conditions like dementia.Chess games can often go on for hours and are an excellent way to pass the time on a quiet afternoon.
Aging and Mental Wellness: Number Games
If you enjoyed math at school, you might want to use your retirement time to engage in number-based games and exercises. They'll help keep those cognitive skills as sharp as they were when you were younger.
Number games include book-based puzzles like Sudoku, or you can create your own simple arithmetic challenges. Number solving is also a useful way of improving other life skills, like managing your money and planning scheduled activities like travel timetables.
Memory Support Activities
There are specific memory games you can use to help strengthen your short-term and working memory. These act as exercises that use repetition and recall,giving you sharper and faster skills that will help you in everyday life. Memory games include:
- Matching cards
- Name and object recall
- Picture memory challenge
Matching cards use pairs, face down in a grid. You need to remember their position and match each pair. Name and object recall is a group activity, where each person announces their name and hobby, and repeats all previous names and hobbies of those who have already spoken.
The picture memory challenge includes a tray with random objects on it. Each participant is given 60 seconds to memorize as many as possible before the tray is covered, and participants write down the ones they can remember.
FAQs
What Activities Stimulate the Brain in the Elderly
Any engaging activity that encourages thinking, problem-solving, or memory recall is an excellent way to exercise the brain in your senior years. That includes puzzles and card games, or group activities like name and object recall.
However, you don't have to play a traditional game to exercise the brain. Playing an instrument, reading a book, or painting all help to stimulate different parts of the brain. The key is to find an activity you enjoy and can commit to, as repeating these activities regularly is the best way to support your cognitive skills.
How To Improve Memory for Seniors?
The best way to improve memory recall when you are in your senior years is through regularly practising memory-themed brain activities. These don't have to be games, though. You can practice everyday activities such as remembering your schedule or reciting a poem.
Don't forget that keeping the brain healthy means keeping the body healthy too, so make sure you get plenty of physical exercise. You'll also need to commit to healthy sleep habits, as that's the time your brain repairs itself.
Are Group Brain Activities Better Than Solo Activities?
Some people prefer solo activities to group, particularly if they are introverts or thrive with activities that let them use their creative skills, like painting.
However, don't overlook the additional benefits of exercising your brain in a group setting. When interacting with others, you're also improving your communication and listening skills, which form a crucial part of brain health.
In addition, regular interaction with others will help protect you from loneliness and even depression, and a happy mind is also a healthy mind.
Senior Brain Games: Looking After Your Mind in Retirement
Just as exercise strengthens your body, so does mental activity. Try one of these senior brain games to ensure you keep your cognitive skills sharp in retirement.
When considering a retirement destination, make sure LakeHouse Three Rivers is on your shortlist and book a tour of our community. In our stunning, leafy surroundings, you'll find a tranquil indoor and outdoor environment, quiet communal areas like our lounge and library, and practical services like our on-site salon.