Forgetting where you left your keys, people’s names or what was on your shopping list are all normal consequences of getting older. While annoying, those “senior moments” are just part of the natural aging process. However, just because you forgot to pick up some onions at the store doesn’t mean your brain is turning to mush.
In fact, some seniors are better than their younger peers at certain memory related tasks. Age-related memory loss does not have to get worse and seniors can even stop memory decline or reverse some of the loss by adopting some key lifestyle changes.
Exercise
Mom was right when she said a healthy body leads to a healthy mind. Aerobic training leads to increased blood flow to the brain, which makes all those neurons fire and connect in new ways. Something as simple as walking or swimming for 30 minutes a few times a week will help fuel your mind and also keep you in better shape.
Diet
Mom was right again. Eating your vegetables does make you smarter. A balanced, nutrition-rich diet is good for you. Brain foods rich in antioxidants such as broccoli and berries, and full of Omega-3s, such as olive oil and fish are great choices to keep your mind working at its best.
Keep your Mind Active
What good is your brain if you don’t use it? Seniors should continually look to challenge themselves while learning new skills and practicing old ones. Some easy, but helpful brain games include crossword puzzles, Sudoku or Scrabble. Practicing these daily can have a positive effect on memory and cognition.
Focus
By limiting distractions and focusing on one task at a time, seniors will be more likely to recall it later. Multitasking can ultimately become an impediment to memory as the brain ages because the brain first has to encode information before it can retrieve the information as memory. Try to do too many things at once and the brain can keep up with what it needs to process.
Sleep
Nothing beats a good night’s sleep. Healthy sleep patterns are crucial for optimal brain performance. A race car driver can’t win the Indy 500 without stopping for gas and that’s exactly what sleep is for your brain. It’s the ultimate pit stop. Sleep is essential to reduce stress, refresh your body and to literally turn off your brain.
At Interim HealthCare, we belive that age alone should’t limit anyon’e horizons, which is why we offer a unique approach to in-home senior care with our HomeLife EnrichmentSM Program. This exclusive program offers seniors in-home services that focus on the whole person- mind, body, spirit and family. Specifically with the “mind” we encourage seniors to partake in our Brain Fun & Fitness activities to help keep their minds active and strong. We also offer a program specifically geared toward providing care for those that suffer from Dementia & Alzheimer’s in a home setting. To learn more about our services visit www.interimhealthcare.com.
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