Six Engaging Brain Games for Seniors

The stereotypical image of a retired senior is someone that spends their entire day lounging around in front of their television. While seniors have certainly earned the freedom to relax and slow down after reaching the retirement milestone, spending too much time binge watching shows isn’t good for their brain. When it comes to brain health and aging, neglecting the brain by not engaging in stimulating activities can lead to memory loss, dementia, and depression. A study by the Mayo Clinic found that seniors with normal cognition who engaged in mentally stimulating activities had a decreased mild cognitive impairment later in life.

When you think about it, the transition from working every day to suddenly having little responsibility is jarring. Most careers lend themselves to engaging the brain daily, from problem solving to communicating with team members, and thinking critically to expressing creativity. Once retirement arrives, seniors need to plan to keep their brain synapses firing. Brain games are nothing new, yet making brain training a part of your usual routine might take some time. Start with a goal of practicing one brain exercise a day. Need a few ideas to start? Read on to learn more about six engaging brain games for seniors.

Sudoku Puzzles

Sudoku puzzles have been around for a few decades and their popularity continues to grow. What’s challenging about a Sudoku is that it uses numbers. From the start, you’re utilizing the memory and logic centers of the brain as you work through the puzzle. As you focus on completing the puzzle and stick with it, you’re improving your ability to concentrate. Sudoku puzzles may even reduce your chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Word Jumbles

If you aren’t hooked on word jumbles, perhaps 2020 is the year to jump on the bandwagon of word jumble fanatics. Unlike crossword puzzles that only work your ability to recall words, word jumbles test the frontal lobe of the brain. The frontal lobe is responsible for emotional expression, problem solving, memory, language, and judgment. Although crossword puzzles are fun and help pass the time, be sure to incorporate word jumbles from time to time to enhance your brain training.

Brain Game Apps

There are a wide variety of brain training apps and online games available for seniors. These are a great tool to track your progress and a fun way to train your brain, without it feeling like work. Most brain games offer a free version, so you can try it out before paying. There are free options as well, or your local library may provide free games on their computers. Brain game apps are great because you can focus on a specific area that you would like to improve. They can tailor their games to meet your specific needs. Some even provide a pre-test, if you will, so you can establish a baseline. After a month, you’re prompted to test again to see how well you’ve improved.

Card Games

Card games are another fun option to add more brain training into your day. When you play card games with other people, you’re utilizing even more brain power as you socialize and concentrate on the game. Plus, playing games with other people is more fun and can add another element of challenge. Even playing a game online against at the computer still works the brain and improves short-term and long-term memory. Single card games still offer brain training, especially if you play fairly.

Spelling Games

Games that involve spelling, such as Scrabble or Bananagrams, offer a variety of brain and health benefits. Playing such games lowers the risk of developing mental illness or dementia. It improves overall memory and helps with word recollection overtime. Typically, these games are played with other people, so there’s the added benefits of socializing and release of endorphins.

Memory Games

Finally, it’s no surprise that memory games engage the brain and improve memory. While all the games mentioned above improve memory and cognitive skills, specific memory games improve concentration, focus, and can improve one’s ability to recall information over time. Try a simple memory game by telling yourself something specific that you want to remember the next day. This could be a math equation, something funny your grandkid did, the title of a book, or an interesting news headline. Then, try to recall what you wanted to remember the next day. It can be helpful to write it down so you can check your accuracy.

Another way to exercise your brain is to never stop learning something new. Did you know that Visiting Angels Fort Worth offers a special senior social care program, where seniors can learn how to use technology? Learn something new with us and keep your mind sharp. Our compassionate caregivers can assist you as you learn new technology or help you set up your new tech devices that you received over the holidays. We can help you stay connected with family and friends using technology. Give us a call to set up a free consultation and make your brain health a priority this year.