Residents of Long Term Care are able to choose from the many activities offered in Long Term Care and keep brains active.
Benefits of Physical Activity
Physical activity of any type is important. Research proves staying active is important to every facet of life and opting out, even at a minimal level, is a risk.
Reconsider having a sedentary lifestyle. Physical activity improves cognitive function and impairment is slowed with appropriate exercise.
Surprisingly dancing has been found to be one of the most effective forms of exercise available for brain health. Not only does it serve to help with physical health, it also prompts memory improvement. Social dancing strengthens neuronal connections by learning new routines and making quick decisions while dancing. These actions affect the hippocampus where memory, learning and balance are controlled. Repetitive activities seldom have any effect on the brain but do impact people physically. Social dancing, with its interchanging motion, has a significant result on brain function and is an enjoyable activity.
Participate in Life
Socializing is important to keep minds active. Conversations with others help improve thinking while cultivating and nurturing friendships helps residents feel more at home. Thoughts and ideas expressed by others stimulate minds and may even help improve debate skills. The camaraderie of being with others releases endorphins and increases happiness. Everyone benefits.
Learn Something New
Learning something new to improve your brain has always been true. Possibilities for learning in Long Term Care are unlimited; books, technology, travelogues, card games and gardening are just a few. Pick an area of interest and participate. Finding a friend to share an activity makes it even more pleasing.
Greet Your Inner Child
Getting older doesn’t mean stop playing. There are countless ways for mature adults to have fun, even for those with mobility issues. Solitary endeavors exist, such as working on a crossword or picture puzzle, playing a musical instrument or mastering card games. Group activities offered are board games, putting together picture puzzles with other residents, charades and trivia. Playing helps with memory, logic skills and recall with the increased benefit of adding entertainment to your day.
Get enough Rest
Our brains need a certain amount of rest to recharge. A twenty-minute nap improves memory skills as it provides energy for other tasks later in the day. A short nap in the afternoon benefits the brain almost as much as a full night’s rest. Different people need different amounts of sleep to be at their peak. Your body will tell you how much rest you need.
Keep a Journal
In younger years you may have kept a diary. Now would be a good time to revive those writing skills. Journaling is a perfect way to keep track of thoughts about different topics, opinions or everyday observations. Journaling is accomplished through words, pictures or both. Mixed media journals are fun if the writer is familiar with current technology. A staff member may even be able to help those with writing challenges. Reflect on life and lessons learned. Writing ideas and thoughts in a journal is an enjoyable way to keep the mind active.
Bridge to Better Living® encourages clients to find quality of life and keep their minds active. BBL is an excellent choice when considering the variety of issues encountered as you or your loved ones age. Contact us for more information about our free to the client services.