Brain activities can exercise the mind and keep senior stroke survivors motivated throughout the recovery process. The cognitive exercises could prevent a recurrent stroke and restore brain functioning. Below are some of the best mind exercises for older adults to practice while on the road to recovery.
1. Cooking New Recipes
Working out is excellent for physical recovery, but your aging loved one will also need to do things that stimulate his or her brain, such as cooking. Learning new recipes provides challenges that keep the brain healthy. Cooking stimulates the mind, and learning about the different foods and their benefits can lead to new brain cell growth after a stroke. The focus shouldn’t be on making the best dishes. Instead, it should be centered on keeping the mind thriving.
Certain age-related conditions can make it more challenging for seniors to age in place safely and comfortably, but Rhode Island live-in care experts are available around the clock to help seniors manage their health. Whether your loved one is living with dementia or is recovering from a stroke, you can trust the professional live-in caregivers from Home Care Assistance to enhance his or her quality of life.
2. Singing
Singing works out the lungs, and it can also exercise the brain and strengthen circulation. Better circulation allows more oxygen to reach the brain and enhances memory, mental alertness, and concentration. Language issues are common in senior stroke survivors, but singing can broaden your parent’s communication skills, giving him or her another way to express his or her thoughts. Singing upbeat songs can decrease the levels of cortisol in the body, lowering the risk of depression after a stroke.
3. Doing Word Searches
Word searches are brain exercises that can enhance the working memory during stroke recovery. The long-term benefits of these puzzles include more effective cognitive skills, greater visual comprehension, and better attention to detail. While searching for the correct words, your loved one will need to retrieve information, which can expand his or her reasoning skills and problem-solving abilities. You can find word searches for your loved one to complete online, or you can create the word puzzles.
4. Playing Card Games
Cognitive impairment is a common problem for senior stroke survivors, but it doesn’t have to be permanent. Playing card games can challenge your loved one’s critical thinking skills and increase his or her confidence. The brain-boosting games your loved one plays can also lead to mental flexibility and increased mobility during the recovery process. While the card games should be challenging, picking activities that are too difficult to complete can be frustrating and stressful for seniors.
A professional caregiver can be a wonderful game-playing partner for a senior stroke survivor. Seniors can face a variety of challenges as they age, many of which can be mitigated with the help of professional in-home caregivers who provide high-quality home care. Trust Home Care Assistance to help your elderly loved one age in place safely and comfortably.
5. Meditating
Mindful meditation can boost a stroke survivor’s focus, empathy, and immune system. Strokes damage the working memory, but meditating can strengthen the mind and alleviate stress. Meditation as a daily habit can increase psychological flexibility, which helps the brain grow and enhances information processing. Meditating regularly can expand the areas of the brain responsible for the regulation of emotions and the ability to concentrate. Your loved one’s brain can adapt to whatever he or she focuses on and grow accordingly.
A professional caregiver can be a wonderful source of information and support for a senior recovering from a stroke. If your elderly loved one needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a trusted provider of Rhode Island senior home care. Our caregivers provide transportation to and from medical appointments and social events, nutritious meal preparation, assistance with daily exercise, and help with everyday tasks like bathing, grooming, and light housekeeping. Trust your loved one’s care to the professionals at Home Care Assistance. To create a customized home care plan for your loved one, call (401) 284-0979 today.