When families first look into adult day health care programs for their aging family members, they might expect most of the available services. But the cognitive stimulation that seniors experience, and the ways they can enjoy life with these activities, is more than just playing games and solving puzzles.
Seniors can enjoy activities that stimulate memory, help them regain curiosity about life, and support their emotional needs as well.
Why Cognitive Stimulation Is Helpful
Humans love novelty and challenge. Brains of all ages need both to thrive, and all too often, seniors don’t have enough daily experiences to challenge them and offer them enough novelty. When they do have a chance to get the cognitive stimulation that they need, they can reduce cognitive decline, improve their attention spans, and improve their moods and confidence.
All of these positive benefits then impact every area of life for seniors.
Music and Memory Work Together
Listening to familiar songs or singing with groups evokes memories and can send people back to a specific memory or event. Music therapy benefits seniors with dementia or other types of memory issues. Making and listening to music can also help to calm anxiety and other negative emotions, while also helping people to make connections with each other.
Technology Makes Brain Games Fun
For a long time, video games or other types of technology-based games and apps have had a bad reputation for wasting time or being bad for the brain. But it turns out that many games and apps help seniors use problem-solving skills, improve memory, and boost language skills.
They can do all that while playing a fun game and competing with friends. All of this can help seniors to be more involved with these types of activities, too.
Storytelling and Writing
Telling stories, either with words or through art forms like painting or sculpting, is a powerful way for seniors to express themselves. These activities stimulate several different brain areas, especially when seniors are accessing their memories for the details. Sharing their writing and art with others also builds connections and communication skills.
Intergenerational Activities
There are lots of different age groups at adult day health care centers, not just because there are different ages of seniors, but also because seniors interact with staff members. Being able to spend time interacting with people of multiple generations introduces novelty for seniors, as well as new perspectives.
Seniors learn from the people around them, get mental engagement from conversations, and get to know people who are different from other people they’ve met.
Sensory Stimulation
Other activities that seniors may enjoy and find cognitive stimulation benefits include stimulating all of their senses. Cooking is a great example because seniors must solve problems, smell what they’re cooking, taste the results, and share what they cook.
Other sensory activities might be part of the regular rotation at adult day health care centers, helping seniors learn new things all the time.
There are so many ways for seniors to get the cognitive stimulation they need. Adult day health care centers work with aging adults to offer them opportunities that they’ll enjoy and experience results from participating in on a regular basis.
If you or an aging loved one is considering the assistance of Cognitive Stimulation in Dundalk, MD, please contact the caring staff at Renaissance Adult Medical Center. Call (443) 501-9500
Renaissance Adult Medical Center Provides Senior Socialization in a Medical Adult Day Care Center in Baltimore City, Baltimore County (Pikesville, Towson, Owings Mills, Catonsville, Reisterstown, Dundalk, Essex), Howard County (Columbia, Ellicott City, Elkridge, Laurel), and in many other counties and cities of Maryland.
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