This season is the perfect time to start engaging your loved one in brain exercises that are beneficial to boosting their cognitive health as they grow older. These activities can be done indoors or outdoors while enjoying the cooler air in the yard or even picnicking in the park. Who would have thought that this kind of exercise could be achieved through something fun like memory games for seniors?
Here, we will talk about the benefits of memory games for seniors, what particular games will benefit your loved one’s cognitive function, and tips for incorporating these activities into their daily lives.
Benefits of Memory Games for Seniors
Two major benefits of memory games that are particularly useful for your beloved senior are:
Cognitive Benefits
As the title of our article says, the most important benefit of the two is to boost cognitive health. In general, memory games act the same as exercise for the body’s general health. The more active they are, the healthier they become.
People often forget about things when they age. With memory games, the part of the brain responsible for retaining memory is challenged and engaged each time they play. A study showed that memory games help improve working memory, which is responsible for storing information that is used to understand, learn, or think about something. However, these games also benefit other types of memory, like short and long-term recall.
All memory games require your loved one to think. The frontal part of the brain, known as the governing area of the brain, is engaged, and its neurons will “branch out” to form new connections. With better working memory (as we explained earlier) and executive function, your loved one can approach any day-to-day challenges more effectively with confidence.
Emotional Benefits
Games are designed to be challenging but exciting, even those that enhance cognitive health. Since the mind is preoccupied with the game’s task, memory games are perfect distractions from the stress or anxiety that often comes with aging. Also, the excitement of playing fun memory games can release endorphins, which bring joy to your loved one’s day.
Memory games for seniors usually come in levels. As one level is completed, seniors can progress to the next one. Even the smallest achievement that comes with finishing a level in a simple game will boost your loved one’s mood and self-esteem in general. That being said, memory games can be safe and fun activities for your loved ones anytime and anywhere.
As people age, staying socially active is incredibly beneficial, and memory games allow them to do just that. Like many games, memory for seniors games can be played with other people, including caregivers, families, and friends. Throughout the game, laughter and conversation will be shared, preventing your loved one from feeling lonely and isolated.
Types of Memory Games for Seniors
Traditional Games
We’ve all known that most games are designed to be challenging for the brain. However, not all games are stimulating the ‘right side’ of the aging brain. These traditional games we listed below are proof that old indeed can be gold:
Card Games
Stimulating games doesn’t have to be complicated. Simple yet famous card games, like Go Fish, can be played as a brain exercise as this game is known to protect against cognitive decline. Moreover, simple card games can be played by almost everyone in your family, giving them a chance to interact with one another.
If your loved ones start to forget some things, don’t worry. A memory card game will help train their memory and concentration, preventing it from declining further. This game is played by placing the card face down on the table, and two cards are flipped over at the same time until a match is found. Our tip, though, is to choose one with big pictures so they aren’t frustrated by not seeing these cards.
Board Games
We recommend board games as the next best memory games for seniors. Chess requires its players to think of different strategies to take on the opponent using logical reasoning and problem-solving. However, the name ‘chess’ is sometimes associated with ‘complexity’ or ‘difficulty,’ and your loved one may be reluctant to play it or struggle a little bit if they have never played it before.
If chess is not the game for your loved one, try Scrabble. Scrabble will train your loved one’s attention, word recall, memory, executive function, and visuospatial skills. This game is a great combination of brain training, but as the name training implies, sometimes it takes a little patience and persistence to complete this.
Puzzles
The last two memory games for seniors are puzzles. Jigsaw puzzles are something almost everyone has been familiar with since childhood. Engaging in these puzzles has been shown to slow the impact of aging and dementia on the brain. But little did anyone know that this puzzle is also a great mindfulness exercise. While your loved one is focusing on doing the puzzle, the brain enters a state of calmness similar to meditation.
Now, crosswords. There is a reason why this game is so popular. While not only enjoyable, this game can also help delay the onset of memory loss for your senior loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s. You can find these games anywhere, from the daily newspaper to online sources for large-print printable crosswords.
Group Memory Activities
We cannot stress enough how important it is for your senior loved one to have social interactions as they age. That is why our next memory games for seniors will include group memory activities, like trivia games and storytelling. This way, you can involve every family member and friend by inviting them to a game night (or day, if your loved one prefers that).
With this weekly or monthly gathering full of laughter and meaningful conversations, your loved one will have something to look forward to and give them a reason to continue living their life to the fullest when they feel down.
How to Choose the Right Memory Games for Seniors
Before choosing to play memory games for seniors as one of the fall activities for your loved one this season, pay attention to the cognitive abilities, interests, conditions, and preferences. Combine all those indicators to find the most suitable game. For example, Jigsaw Puzzle may be the perfect choice if your loved one needs a cognitive exercise that does not give them competing pressure.
Tips for Implementing Memory Games in Home Care
1. Set Up a Routine
You may have heard this advice from life coaches or even famous athletes: the key to success is to keep showing up every day. The same goes for brain training, in this case, playing memory games. To really see impacts, like better cognitive abilities or memory recall, establish a regular gaming schedule, integrate it with daily activities, and try to stick to that schedule.
But remember to be flexible as you’re dealing with someone who may have some declining cognitive abilities and other health issues. If today is not a good day to play a game, try again tomorrow or the day after, and so on.
2. Encourage Participation
These games we’ve talked about are sometimes difficult for some seniors with decreased cognitive abilities. Your job as a caregiver is to learn what’s working and what’s not. If there is progress, encourage them to keep trying while letting your loved one take their time to finish. As your loved one gets the hang of it, you and your loved one can see the benefits of better cognitive ability.
End Note
Finally, memory games for seniors come in many forms, from games that can be played alone, like puzzles, to games that can be played with other people, like card or board games. As a caregiver, it’s your job to find the best one for your older loved one and encourage them to play daily.
Contact Sunny Days In-Home Care today if you need someone you can trust to help you play with your loved one every day or with personal care if you can’t. Our pro caregiver will help your loved one in a way that fits their needs.
