Fun and Simple Activities to Boost Memory and Brain Function for Your Elderly Loved Ones
While memory loss is a normal part of aging, it was not long after my mom moved in with me that I noticed the dramatic decline in her memory. She would often forget the year, day of the week, and recent events.
TLDR: I share some ideas for fun activities that can boost memory and brain function for seniors
Mama's joy in solving word searches and engaging in other memory-boosting activities goes beyond mere entertainment. It has become a lifeline, enriching her daily life and fostering mental clarity.
Little did I know that this caregiving journey would lead to the discovery of the incredible power of word searches and other activities in boosting brain function to preserve memory. In this blog post, I’ll share what I learned on Mama's journey and some ideas for fun activities that can boost memory and brain function for seniors that can also be rewarding for you as their caregiver.
Mama's Journey | Within a few months after Mama began living with us, we discovered that she was facing a serious health crisis. After surgery and a five day hospital stay, we had to hire a temporary caregiver to assist with her daily care and home health needs. It was during this time that her caregiver introduced her to word searches, and the impact was nothing short of remarkable.
Her immediate love for word searches and our realization of the impact on her brain function had opened the door for us to introduce more activities. Mama's joy in solving word searches and engaging in other memory-boosting activities goes beyond mere entertainment. It has become a lifeline, enriching her daily life and fostering mental clarity. The camaraderie during domino games with my sister and her husband, the excitement of reading a new book with tales from her cherished Jamaica, and the nostalgia triggered by carefully chosen youtube videos, have collectively contributed to Mama's cognitive well-being. More than five years later, Mama has completed thousands of puzzles and read dozens of books - keeping her memories intact—a testament to the benefits of purposefully engaging the mind.
Here are some fun and simple activities to boost memory and brain function:
Word and Number Activities: (For example, word searches, crossword puzzles, sudoku, mahjong, etc.) Large print puzzles for seniors are available online and at your bookstore! I recommend looking for themes that align with your loved one’s interests. Mama, for instance, enjoys word searches with themes such as Bible stories, gardening, and Jamaica.
Games that Require Strategy and Stimulate Memory: Jigsaw Puzzles, Tic-Tac-Toe, Checkers, Dominoes, Memory, Connect Four, and more are simple strategy games that stimulate memory.
Books: Reading is a great hobby for seniors to discover new worlds when they are no longer able to venture out every day. I recommend finding books that revolve around stories and themes your elderly loves. Mama, being a fan of drama and her Jamaican roots, gets immersed in books that combine both elements. The stories not only captivate her but also contribute to preserving her memory. Mama loves retelling the “juicy” stories from her books! You can find large print books online and at your bookstore! You can also try a magnifying glass or page magnifier for some extra help with visibility.
Pro Tip: reading together with your loved one via taking turns or reading to them is a great bonding activity.
Keep a large monthly calendar visible: Being oriented to the date, month and year each day has been beneficial to my mother in measurable ways. At first she was disoriented to which year it was. Now, with a large calendar in her room she sees it when she wakes up each morning.
Add appointments, birthdays and other events to their calendar to help them to keep track important events and stay engaged with what’s going on in the family.
Have them cross off each day and ask them the year or day of the week each day to help them remember.
Story Telling: Nothing beats stories from the good old days. Mama loves to tell stories of her “triumphs and tribulations.” Telling her stories helps to boost her memory while teaching us about our family history. If you want a place to start, here are some questions you can ask your elderly loved one. Encouraging your loved one to talk about their life is a great way to practice recalling memories, so ask questions that require retrieval of a memory, both short and long term, and questions that allow for sequencing. My youngest child does a great job asking her grandmother questions and explore her answers in detail.
Look at family pictures together: Asking questions about the people and places in the photos always triggers stories and memories. Mama enjoys telling stories, and we enjoy hearing about her life.
Encourage them to keep in touch with family and friends: The telephone is a life line for many elderly people because they may not be able to travel to see their loved ones, and this has always been the case for my mother. She calls her children and her sister daily. She also calls her friends and church family often. Talking to their loved ones on the phone is also a great tool for boosting memory because it stimulates memories, and they get to catch up on current happenings while creating new memories. Our next mission is to teach her how to use FaceTime so she can video call her loved ones too!
Let them help with routine activities (i.e., gather items for bath, bedtime, meals, pick out outfit for the day). See blog post on Building Routines here.
Go on walks together: Let them tell you what they see, or even ask them about things you pass along the way. Mama has always been a dedicated gardener, so she loves to talk about different flowers and plants that she spots while we are out. If they have mobility issues, consider using a walker, rollator walker, or wheelchair.
Sleep: There is an abundance of research on the impact of sleep on memory. According to the National Institute of Health, when you learn something new, the best way to remember it is to sleep on it. That’s because sleeping helps strengthen memories you’ve formed throughout the day. It also helps to link new memories to earlier ones. If your loved one struggles with sleep, talk to their doctor to explore medical reasons and get help finding solutions. You may also explore night time routines that helps support sleep.
Aging well means prioritizing sleep
— Harvard Health Blog, 2019
Tips for YOU, the caregiver, while introducing activities:
Be Patient. Learning new activities may require more time and repetition.
Introduce activities one at a time. Too many new activities at once can be overwhelming. Give them time to learn one activity before introducing another.
It’s ok if they don’t like an activity. Move on to something else. I remember trying out an activity which Mama had to pick out a picture which is different than the others, it was very frustrating for her and repeated attempts did not help. Ultimately, she did not enjoy it so we moved on.
Find games that require multiple players. This fosters social engagement as well. For Mama, playing dominoes with my sister and her husband has become a fun pastime. She uses strategy and memory and boasts quite a few wins.
Be supportive and encouraging throughout the learning process.
Talk to their doctor about activities that might be helpful to introduce. My mother has a wonderful primary care physician who provides resources regularly to support her holistically.
Caring for the elderly involves not just addressing physical health but also nurturing cognitive well-being. Mama's journey is a testament to the positive impact that engaging activities like word searches can have on memory and brain function. By incorporating these ideas and tailoring activities to your loved one's preferences, you can embark on a similar journey of preserving cherished memories and promoting overall cognitive health.
Disclaimer: The suggestions provided in this blog are based on my own experience in caring for my mother and are not intended to replace medical advice regarding memory care or brain health. For seniors with medical concerns, and for you, it is always best to seek and follow a doctor’s orders for professional, personalized guidance for health and memory care and beyond.
