Despite popular beliefs about aging, memory loss is not a natural part of getting older. However, many American seniors have some form of dementia—a group of conditions characterized by progressive brain deterioration and cognitive decline. While there are no cures available for these conditions, there are many steps families can take to help support the minds of their loved ones. In addition to receiving support from a trusted doctor and a dementia care facility, here are a few fun activities that can help keep your loved one’s mind active.

Brain-Boosting Activities to Do With Seniors

1. Walk

Research suggests that light fitness—such as walking—may help prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Specifically, physical activity boosts blood flow to brain cells and helps them stay healthy. When you walk with your loved one, you’ll also expose them to the environment and provide them with companionship—two elements that can help stimulate different areas of the brain.

2. Look at Photos

If available, consider looking at a photo album—or even putting one together—with your loved one. Reviewing old photographs can transport seniors back to a different time, allowing them to process memories in a rewarding fashion.

3. Put Together Puzzles

Jigsaw puzzles offer a unique logical challenge that can help seniors who may have or be at risk of developing dementia. By putting small puzzle pieces together to form a familiar image, individuals engaged will use stimulate areas of the brain that are connected to visual recognition and spatial reasoning.

4. Play Music

Listening to music can have a wide range of benefits on the brain health of aging individuals. In particular, research suggests that listening to familiar songs can help seniors become more attentive, recall memories, and ease distress caused by dementia.

5. Garden

Offering a direct connection to the natural world, gardening can benefit the minds of seniors in many ways. For one, garden therapy is shown to soothe individuals who may be experiencing stress due to Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. This approach to dementia care also helps people think in an organizational capacity while engaging in a light form of fitness.  

If Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia is impairing your loved one’s quality-of-life, consider the comfortable residences that Providence Village at Creekside offers. As a fully-equipped memory care facility in Cobb County, this Smyrna, GA, retirement community is designed to help seniors age in a safe and stress-free fashion. This community is also staffed by specially trained nurses who will monitor your loved one’s health and behavior in a way that addresses their unique medical needs. To learn more about their dementia care capabilities, visit this assisted living center online. You can also call a friendly team member at (314) 355-3679 to schedule a convenient tour of the residence.