Tips for Keeping the Brain Active with Age

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How to Keep the Brain Active with Age in Winnipeg, MB

A study released by St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto found that brain exercises are more beneficial for seniors looking to maintain their brain functions than medication. This is just one reason it’s important to help your senior loved one keep his or her brain active and stimulated throughout all stages of life. Here’s a closer look at what can be done to keep the brain active in the golden years.  

Keep Learning

A rewarding way for seniors to mentally exercise is by learning new skills and absorbing knowledge. It’s believed new learning keeps brain cells healthy while also boosting communication among various areas of the brain. Possibilities with senior learning include:
  • Taking up a new hobby
  • Exploring classes for seniors offered at local colleges or senior centers
  • Using learning-based apps that teach new skills with easy-to-follow tutorials
Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of home care. Winnipeg families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia.

Eat Right

An aging brain needs a wide variety of essential nutrients to remain active and fully functioning during the golden years. Help your loved one reap the rewards of a brain-friendly diet by encouraging him or her to enjoy foods that include:
  • Sardines, salmon, trout, and other healthy fatty fish
  • Blueberries and other deeper-hued berries
  • Bright-colored citrus fruits
  • Dark chocolate and coffee—in moderation
In-home care providers can benefit aging adults in a variety of ways. From cooking nutritious meals to offering timely medication reminders, the dedicated caregivers at Home Care Assistance are available to help your elderly loved one 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Get Regular Exercise

Researchers at Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa have noted a linked between regular exercise and “repair process” in the brain that helps with important connections. Exercise also helps the brain develop entirely new connections (neuroplasticity), which could boost memory and overall cognitive health. Plus, there’s evidence regular exercise may significantly reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s later in life.

Socialize

Social interaction keeps the brain active by keeping the mind focused and engaged. Also, being social active reduces issues with loneliness and depression that can take a toll on cognitive health and wellbeing for older adults. Fortunately, there are many ways to remain social in the golden years, some of which include:
  • Inviting friends and family members over for games, cooking, or other social events
  • Playing multiplayer video games with fairly basic concepts
  • Volunteering
  • Joining clubs specifically for seniors
  • Taking day trips with other older adults
 

Enjoy Daily Cognitive Stimulation

Simple activities like completing word puzzles, using apps like Lumosity that offer many different brain-stimulating games, and reading can provide sufficient cognitive stimulation. Older adults may gain similar levels of beneficial brain activity with:
  • Enjoyable hobbies
  • Music-based activities
  • Art and/or craft projects
Aging in place can present a few unique challenges for older adults. Some only require part-time assistance with exercise or meal preparation, while others are living with serious illnesses and benefit more significantly from receiving live-in care . Winnipeg Home Care Assistance are leaders in the elderly in-home care industry for good reason. We tailor our care plans based on each senior’s individual needs, our caregivers continue to receive updated training in senior care as new developments arise, and we also offer comprehensive care for seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s. To speak with one of our qualified Care Managers, call today.  

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