11 Best Brain Games For The Elderly And How To Play It
Introduction
Do you want to keep your brain active, engaged, and feeling more youthful? Playing games can help. Studies have shown that just 10 minutes of brain boosting activity a day can lead to better memory recall, improved cognitive function, more creativity and greater focus.
In today’s society, many elderly care providers are underestimating the mental health of their patients. They tend to focus on physical health and neglect the need for stimulating activities that can improve cognitive processes, such as memory and attention.
It is critical for healthcare professionals to recognize the importance of mental stimulation in elderly patients. With appropriate brain games, individuals with dementia can experience a more fulfilling life with a higher quality of living. These games also have a positive effect on caregivers. Activities such as playing chess or solving puzzles creates social interaction among those who are being cared for which can improve moods and relieve boredom from day-to-day routines faced by those providing care.
What Are The Benefits Of Playing Brain Games For The Elderly?
Studies have shown that seniors who play these types of games two or three times a week showed an improvement in some areas of cognition after only ten sessions. Specifically their concentration levels improved by 15%, their attention spans by 20% and they became 10% faster at completing tasks.
The games are often very simple. There are various puzzles, word searches, and learning games that require minimal intellect and some that can be played by anyone who just wants to sharpen their wits. The best part is they can be played at home on a computer or handheld device such as an iPod touch or even the popular Nintendo DS game system.
If you have a loved one with Alzheimer’s, Lewy body dementia or other forms of dementia, playing brain games may help ward off the symptoms of memory loss and confusion caused by these diseases. In this way, caregivers will not only be able to prevent changes in cognitive function but also enjoy enhanced emotional well-being as well.
11 Best Brain Games For The Elderly And How To Play It
1. Mini Brain Games
This is the best brain game for elderly for improving memory, attention and concentration levels. There are many mini games out there, but these 10 mini brain games will help seniors improve memory and learning ability, speed recall and also improve concentration. So if you have a caregiving partner or friend who needs a simple brain game to boost cognitive functions make sure you check out this list.
2. Sudoku
Sudoku is a puzzle that requires logic skills to solve. It has been around since the 1960s and is still popular in Japan today where half of the board is filled with numbers between 1 to 9 so that only values of 1 through 9 are available in any row or column. This makes it easier to use crosswords, word searches and computing skills. It is also a fun challenge to play.
3. Rebus Puzzles
These are the best brain games for elderly because they require the use of both logic and visual recognition skills. They are very simple puzzles consisting of a colored square with an unknown set of letters inside it. Each letter makes a word so the puzzle is to figure out what each square represents by rearranging the letters into new words that make sense as you see them. I don’t know about you but I have come across some pretty tough ones the last few years that have taken a lot of time and patience just to solve them!
4. Memory Matching
Memory matching is a game used to increase memory skills by matching pairs of similar items. This brain game can be played with a partner but also by single players. It varies in complexity depending on the type of match being made and the number of items being matched.
5. Minesweeper
Minesweeper is a classic puzzle where you must search for information hidden in various numbered squares, reading clues to discover which areas have what value. The player must be methodical because one wrong move can lead to an explosion. This game is similar to a crossword puzzle and is a lot of fun for seniors.
6. Crossword Puzzles
Crosswords are always good brain games for the elderly because they require working memory, inductive reasoning, and memory capabilities. A crossword puzzle is a word game in which you must find words that connect horizontally, vertically and diagonally. In most instances, you will have to use at least one letter from a given word on the same row, column or diagonal as the square containing that letter. These are some of the best memory games because they improve reasoning skills and help with decision-making abilities.
7. Word Searches
Word searches are an old school game that is still a favorite among seniors because they are so simple and fun to play. They don’t require intense concentration or a lot of mental energy. These brain games for elderly require the player to find words that are hidden in a bigger picture or word search puzzle. The main goal is to find as many words as possible within a time period. Word Searches help seniors with their short term memory abilities, vocabulary, spelling and general knowledge skills.
8. Trivia Games
These are some of the best brain games for senior citizens because they utilize all areas of memory skills including both verbal and visual recognition, reasoning and decision making skills. Trivia games are fun and addictive too. I think they are best played with a group of friends or family members to get the competitive juices flowing!
9. Cantonese Word Search
If you love word puzzles and need some extra brain exercise, then you should try this one out. You will be presented with a word or phrase in Cantonese and asked to find the English equivalent by looking at given clues. It is also a great brain game for seniors because it increases mental concentration and improves reasoning skills.
10. Crossword Puzzles
These are the most common type of word puzzles and usually appear in newspapers. They are also the best for seniors because they improve literacy, general knowledge and vocabulary skills. They test a person’s spelling ability and knowledge of other areas such as history, culture, geography etc.
11. Word Jumble
This is a great game for anyone who loves words and solving puzzles but needs to sharpen their vocabulary skills or needs to work on improving their general knowledge. It is basically a jumbled up bunch of letters that need to make sense when unscrambled. Words can also be typed in as an alternative to using the scrambled words provided by the game maker/teacher.
Conclusion
The benefits of brain games for adults are multiple. It is not only a way to make sure you wash away the day’s stress, but also a wonderful way to exercise your mental muscles back into shape. The best part about these games is that they can be played in solitude or with other people.
Learning something new never hurts and it’s great for your brain. There are so many online websites that offer free brain games for adults, but we have gathered the best ones here for you to try out.