Brain health is vital for seniors because it affects their thinking, memory, decision-making, and more. Therefore, you must incorporate brain-boosting strategies that are mentally engaging and increase your elderly parent’s overall wellbeing. Brain-stimulating activities can stave off conditions like dementia while allowing your loved one to safely age in place with more confidence and independence. Here are a few ways aging adults can boost their brain health.
Get Adequate Rest
The efficiency with which the brain’s neurons communicate with other nerve cells relies on many factors, including rest. During sleep, the body removes harmful toxins that disrupt thinking patterns and cause additional damage to the brain. Therefore, your loved one needs at least eight or nine hours of rest each night and should avoid excessive napping during the day. Too much sleep in the afternoon or early evening hours could cause your loved one to stay up later at night.
Engage in Plenty of Physical Activity
Working out, gardening, walking around the neighborhood, dancing, and other physical activities can help seniors think more efficiently, solve issues more easily, and enjoy greater balance in their emotional health. These are all essential brain functions, so taking on more physical tasks throughout the week can boost your loved one’s functioning. Physical activity could also enhance your loved one’s memory while staving off depression.
Eat Healthy
The nutrients your loved one consumes will enhance his or her neuron formation and support a variety of brain functions, from memory to attention span. A well-balanced diet in the senior years includes adequate fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and foods and beverages that are low in fat and sugar. Foods containing healthy antioxidants, such as leafy greens and fatty fish, are best for seniors because they boost brain health and reduce the risk of age-related cognitive conditions.
A professional caregiver can ensure your loved one eats healthy meals and enjoys a higher quality of life. Seniors who want to remain healthy as they age can benefit in a variety of ways when they receive professional in-home care. Assisting Hands Home Care Richmond is here to help your loved one accomplish daily tasks, prevent illness, and focus on living a healthier and more fulfilling life.
Stay Mentally Active
Mentally stimulating activities are crucial in the golden years, whether your loved one takes up puzzle-solving games, reads books, paints, or enrolls in online educational courses. These tasks stimulate new connections between the nerve cells, which can ultimately lead to the generation of new cells and increased brain function. Suggest mentally stimulating activities your parent might enjoy. Including your loved one in the planning stages could boost his or her brain activity and self-esteem.
Older adults experiencing cognitive decline due to conditions such as Alzheimer’s might need caregivers with special expertise in boosting senior brain health. Aging adults with Alzheimer’s disease can benefit from receiving professional Alzheimer’s care. Richmond seniors need regular mental stimulation when managing memory-related conditions, and a reliable in-home caregiver who has extensive training in Alzheimer’s care can be a great asset.
Get Social Interaction
Growing older can mean the gradual loss of various relationships, including those with family, friends, neighbors, and business associates. Therefore, seniors may need to rebuild their social networks, especially if their children and grandchildren live far away. While you may be there for your parent, he or she needs to participate in regular social activities that keep the mind active and boost cognitive function. Whether your parent engages with others via social media platforms, enrolls in classes, or has the companionship of a new friend or professional caregiver, socialization could lower the odds of cognitive decline and prevent your loved one from developing dementia or other cognitive conditions.
For families living in Richmond, home care can be a wonderful solution when their aging loved ones need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just need minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Assisting Hands Home Care, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home. If your loved one needs assistance with the challenges of aging, reach out to one of our knowledgeable, compassionate Care Managers today at (804) 600-0002.
