Five Activities To Improve Your Elderly Relative’s Cognitive Functioning

It’s hugely important that as we get older we look after our brains. As we age, maintaining cognitive functioning becomes increasingly important for our overall well-being and quality of life, particularly as the risks of conditions such as dementia begin to creep in.

A good way to aid with this is by ensuring they remain active in their mind. At many senior care homes across the country, it’s a big part of their day-to-day, while even at home you should look at ensuring a healthy and active lifestyle is in place to foster mental sharpness and vitality.

If you have a loved one who is of older age and you’re keen to get their mind working a little harder, here are five great activities that can help with this…

Brain-Boosting Games and Puzzles

Firstly, it can be as simple as providing them with puzzles and games. Your grandparent or elderly loved one may love a crossword or a jigsaw and that will certainly help with their cognitive functioning. That’s because puzzles like those mentioned, as well as sudoku, word searches and other similar puzzles challenge memory, attention and problem solving skills. 

The games encourage the brain to form new neural connections which can improve cognitive flexibility and resilience, while any group games can also increase social interaction and further improve mental well-being.

Learning a New Skill or Hobby

You’re never too old to learn a skill and beginning at an elderly age can stimulate cognitive function and encourage personal growth. It may be taking up a new language, picking up artistic pursuits such as painting or pottery, or even learning a new instrument. These all stimulate the brain, promote neuroplasticity and can also provide a more social environment, decreasing the likes of loneliness and isolation. 

Physical Exercise and Movement

While physical exercise is naturally hugely beneficial for physical health, something of which should also be considered for our elderly loved ones, it’s also crucial for cognitive functioning too. Regular exercise improves blood flow to the brain and the release of neurotransmitters. It stimulates the growth of new brain cells and there are many gentle activities such as swimming, walking and yoga that can be great for that.

They can become a key part of a daily routine, and the release of endorphins can also significantly boost mood.

Social Engagement and Interaction

Elderly people can often feel lonely, so it’s important to encourage social engagement. It plays a big part of day-to-day life in a care home, and that should also be the case for relatives living at home too. Joining clubs or volunteering is a good way of achieving this, while there are also many community events to go along with that can provide the opportunity for social interaction too. 

Conversing with others and sharing experiences can promote cognitive functions as you’re essentially exercising language skills, regulating emotions and practicing memory retrieval, all the while reducing the risks of loneliness.

Mindfulness Meditation and Relaxation

Finally, it may also be worth getting your relative involved with meditation and mindfulness techniques. These can really build emotional resilience, as well as reduce stress, anxiety and rumination. 

Alongside this, meditation can also improve attention, memory and cognitive flexibility through techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation and other mindfulness exercises.