The older adults in our lives are not just our seniors, but also respected sources of advice and support with years of experience behind their words. This involves being able to remember and apply the many lessons that they have experienced. However, old age is also commonly associated with cognitive decline, dementia, and conditions like Alzheimer’s Disease. While it is normal to experience forgetfulness or changes in your mental reflexes, it is entirely possible to retain most of your cognitive abilities even as you age.
This is because the brain is a lot like the muscle. This means that if you continue to stimulate and engage the different neural connections in your brain, your mind will be able to continue remaining agile and reactive to new experiences in your life. There are many ways to achieve this goal. However, at Conservatory at Alden Bridge, our professional team loves incorporating fun brain games for seniors into the daily activities of members of our senior living community.
Before You Start
Before you start stocking up on every brain game available on the market, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, it doesn’t need to be expensive for it to be the best option. There are many different free and affordable games out on the market that have a simple format and are extremely engaging for beginners. Next, while challenging games may provide a more comprehensive experience, simpler games are great as they are not as frustrating and can sometimes be easily modified to accommodate for the player’s growth. Lastly, it is important to consider whether or not the game has a social element. If your loved one is constantly home alone, opting for a game that requires a second player to be physically present will restrict them to interact with the game as much as one that allows for single players.
Top Game Recommendations
Which game you choose to opt for will differ depending on you and your loved ones’ personal preferences and needs. For physical games, we recommend options like:
- Chess
- Sudoku
- Scrabble
- Boggle
- Crosswords
For those who prefer to engage with their games digitally, here are our top picks for online programs. Some of them offer a collection of games to ensure that you have a steady collection of brain boosting activities to keep you entertained.
- Lumosity
- Peak
- Trivia Plaza
- Witty Words
Another app that we would highly recommend is Duolingo. It is an application that facilitates the learning of languages and has garnered over 300 million users globally. There are over a hundred languages in the app and it is extremely user-friendly and interactive. By gamifying language learning, it allows you and your loved one to pick up a foreign language in an entertaining way.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the different activities that you can try out with your loved ones to boost their mental and cognitive capacities. To find out more about our senior living options or the exclusive senior living programs that we carry out, contact us today through this online form or by calling us at 832.843.9962.
