A senior can experience memory loss as a result of dementia or simply because of advancing age. However, there are certain activities that can help keep the memory stimulated. No matter what the cause, it’s important to find effective ways to help keep your elderly loved one’s mind sharp.
Encourage Dancing
Seniors who dance often can boost their memory and lower their chances of getting dementia. According to a study featured in the New England Journal of Medicine, dancing is the only physical activity related to a reduced risk of developing dementia. Learning a variety of dance steps can stimulate your loved one’s memory, and moving on the dance floor is also a wonderful cardiovascular workout that can help increase the blood flow to his or her brain.
Support Regular Reading
Reading is an activity many Mississauga dementia care experts recommend because it directly involves cognition and language, which can exercise a senior’s brain. Research done by the Mayo Clinic discovered older people who read either magazines or books were less likely to experience memory loss. Reading any type of material is a cognitive exercise that may also help prevent future memory loss.
Convince Your Loved One to Join Facebook
There are many ways your loved one can benefit from starting a Facebook page, including stimulating his or her memory. Connecting with friends and being social can help keep your loved one from getting depressed and lower his or her stress level. Since depression and stress are both known causes of memory loss, trying to reduce these two ailments from your loved one’s life can help boost his or her memory.
Provide Puzzles That Challenge the Mind
Seniors receiving Alzheimer’s care in Mississauga can boost their memory simply by doing puzzles. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Sudoku and crossword puzzles are popular mind exercises that can challenge a senior’s memory and keep his or her brain in shape. Doing these puzzles can also help activate your loved one’s mind, keep it sharp and alert, and increase his or her overall cognitive functioning.
Even if your loved one does not have a memory-related condition, providing mental stimulation is crucial for helping him or her maintain a sharp mind. If your loved one needs regular cognitive stimulation, turn to Home Care Assistance. All of our caregivers are trained in the revolutionary Cognitive Therapeutics Method, an activities-based program that helps slow cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia. For more information on home care Mississauga families trust, call one of our qualified Care Managers at 905-337-1200 to schedule a free in-home consultation.