7 Mentally-Challenging Games for Seniors that are Fun, Too

Elderly Care in Richardson, TX – Exercising the Mind is Essential to Maintaining Cognitive Ability

Brain exercises and everyday engagement of the mind keeps us all sharp. From putting together a puzzle to doing Sudoku, mind games continuously improve our problem-solving skills and our ability to think clearly. Not only are brain exercises constructive for the mental health of people of all ages, they are especially useful for seniors.

When a senior citizen is not able to do certain things that they used to be able to, mind games are an excellent way to improve memory, stay busy, and prevent boredom or depression. Games are also an excellent opportunity for you or your caregiver to engage with the elder. You can create comradery by teaming up and completing mind challenges together. Here are a few excellent examples of brain exercises that will help senior citizens stay sharp:

1. Chess: This 2-player game is the ultimate test of strategy and wits. If your loved one was once a chess player, they’ll always be a chess player and always be willing to take you on for a game.
2. Sudoku: This author actually still struggles with Sudoku, so needless to say it’s a challenging game! Researchers consistently find this numbers game to be a great way to boost brain activity. Just make sure that your senior has more complicated Sudoku levels available once they’ve mastered the easy ones. Make sure the game remains challenging!
3. Scrabble: Scrabble is a unique brain exercise because it uses both sides of the brain. The mathematic and scoring function help improve the senior’s problem solving and logic abilities, while the actual art of creating words from letters exercises creativity. Plus, this is a great group activity that can exercise your loved one’s social skills.
4. Cards: Everyone loves a game of cards. Games like Go Fish, Solitaire, and Black Jack make great use of logic and strategy. They not only exercise decision-making and pattern skills, but card games can be played with many people for a more social experience.
5. Computer Memory Games: Sites like Luminosity offer great games on smart phones that your senior can partake in.
6. Word Search: For anyone who subscribes to the newspaper or magazine, word searches are easy to come by. The word search is a great visual exercise as your elder is looking through patterns and trying to uncover hidden words.
7. Jigsaw Puzzles: Jigsaw puzzles are a great way to tune visual skills. As age sometimes results in fading vision, this is a good way to keep seeing skills focused.

There are several challenging brain exercises that are both entertaining and keep your loved one’s mind healthy and sharp.

If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Richardson, TX and the surrounding areas, contact Approved In Home Care at 972-212-5343 today.