Keeping the Mind Sharp: How To Help Your Loved One Stay Focused and Inspired

The human mind functions best when it has a challenge to tackle. But as we age, keeping our minds sharp and agile can become more difficult. We tend to be less active, less social, and to rely more heavily on daily routines to occupy our minds. As an increasing number of our nation’s seniors opt to preserve their independence by living on their own, one challenge becomes keeping our seniors’ minds sharp and their emotional state buoyant.

So what tools and techniques can you use to help the seniors in your life maintain their mental acuity, curiosity, and love for life? Here are a few approaches you can try…

Socialize

We humans are social animals, and though we tend to withdraw more from social activities as we age, our minds still welcome human contact. Engaging with friends, neighbors, and others on a routine basis can help keep older minds from becoming “foggy” or confused. Socialization also exercises the mind in a way that solitary activities do not. Conversation makes us listen, focus, and respond to what others are saying—working a part of the mind that is often neglected by those who live alone. By making social time a part of each week, you can help your loved one maintain mental acuity and stay engaged with life. Enlisting the services of an in-home aide is a great way to ensure your loved one’s are maintaining essential and engaging contact with other humans.

Discover Challenging Games

The way we spend our leisure time has a lot to do with the way our minds function. Completing a crossword or engaging in online game play can provide stimulation that one does not get from simply watching TV. Wordplay and other games challenge our minds and help deepen learning pathways in the brain. It doesn’t matter if your loved one plays online or does the crosswords in the local paper, staying engaged in a game with a clear objective helps maintain brain power.

Engage a New Interest

Filling the time left free by retirement can be daunting for some elders. Opening doors to a new or long neglected interest can help stimulate the mind and support emotional health. Hobbies such as coin or stamp collecting, knitting, or baking can help occupy “empty” time constructively. Maybe your loved one had a bucket list wish they’d never fulfilled, such as learning to paint. Now is the ideal time to take up a new interest that will challenge and stimulate the mind while helping build a new skill.

Break Your Routine

Sometimes simply engaging in activities outside the daily routine is all it takes to sharpen the mind and brighten the emotions. And planning something fun that’s outside the routine is a great way to have something to look forward to. While activities should be commensurate with your loved one’s physical abilities, there are many options available. For example, attend a flower show, an antique car show, or an art opening. Even a walk through the mall during off-peak hours can provide welcome relief from the normal, often mind-dulling routine.

Get Involved in Community Activities

Even if your loved one lives independently, chances are they’re part of a community, if not several. They have neighbors, friends, and relatives, as well as local organizations that can offer a sense of belonging and usefulness. Consider suggesting to your senior relative that they become involved in a local community organization, such as a volunteer organization that gets them out of the house and offers fresh challenges.

Exercise

Exercise is as important for the mind as it is for the body. Exercise not only works muscles, it helps eliminate toxins from the body, and boosts mood. Making exercise a part of one’s daily routine can help maintain both physical strength and mental acuity. And if your loved one suffers from depression, a twice or three-times weekly walking regimen may be able to help combat some of the negative feelings that mood disorders can cause.

We hope you find this article helpful. At 5 Star Home Care, we are experienced in supporting the physical, mental, and emotional health of our clients. Our trained in-home care workers understand the challenges faced by today’s independent seniors and work with each client to provide the intellectual stimulation needed to live a fulfilling life. If you or someone you know could benefit from in-home care, contact us today! We’re waiting to hear from you.

With offices in Bala Cynwyd and Philadelphia, 5 Star Home Care serves the Philadelphia metro area, including Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties. Contact us today, and discover what peace of mind feels like.