Memory care activities are designed for seniors with cognitive issues like dementia and Alzheimer's. They play an important role in keeping older people engaged with others, and also help to exercise their cognitive skills. Staying mentally active in old age has been proven to support brain health, according to the latest research.
If you are a retiree in Rochester, NY, you have access to lots of activities and events that can help you stay engaged. Here are some of the best memory care activities for cognitive wellness.
For seniors with cognitive issues like Alzheimer's and dementia, everyday connections can be a little bit harder. Communication may not come as easily to them, for example. That's why meaningful structured activities that offer engagement can be a bridge between a memory care resident and the rest of the community.
These activities:
Tailored activities are typically arranged and hosted by an experienced member of a care team. They can help residents feel at ease with a compassionate approach that encourages seniors to connect with others.
If you are considering memory care for a loved one, take a look at what activities are on offer in the community. Here are some that help encourage engagement and connection.
You might also see this activity called reminiscence therapy, but it is essentially a group activity for memory care patients. Led by a caregiver, residents can share items, talk, and reflect on what that object means to them. That could be a memory box, a photo, or even a piece of music.
This type of activity can help improve memory recall, which is an excellent way of supporting those facing cognitive decline.
Engaging the creative side of your brain can be an excellent way to sharpen cognitive skills and tap into old memories. It's also therapeutic. Creative activities can include:
It's a chance for all seniors to engage in activities they may have enjoyed in their youth or adulthood. For some, it could reignite passion for an old hobby that they didn't have time to pursue between raising a family and a career.
Connecting with nature can help calm the senses and trigger old memories. It's the ideal therapeutic activity for memory care seniors. In a senior living community, gardening can be a fun, social activity.
For example, a group could grow a community garden or even work together to create a vegetable patch.
It provides a sense of purposeand a chance to take pride in a tangible achievement.
Gardening is also a way to connect with others, share conversation, engage in teamwork, and get some gentle physical exercise. Outdoor activities can help with mental health too, improving moods and reducing stress levels.
For seniors with a passion for food, cooking provides the ideal way to relax and connect with others in the community. In a memory care setting, these activities can be supervised and tasks delegated to each resident, with someone stirring batter, a small team ready to decorate cookies, or a small group collecting fresh herbs from a community garden.
Cooking is also an excellent activity for fine motor skills, which can be important for aging adults.
Enjoy the relaxed setting of a community lounge to try a jigsaw puzzle, board game, or challenge another resident to a game of chess.
Games like these are excellent for supporting cognitive health and give memory care residents a chance to talk and laugh with their neighbors. You can even turn it into an event with prizes for the winners. Games are also an excellent way of supporting memory recall skills.
If you are considering senior living for an elderly parent, talk to the care team about activities on offer. Appropriate activities for those with dementia are generally simple, meaningful, and reflect personal interests.
Good options include music therapy, gentle outdoor exercise, creative tasks, and group storytelling. The key is finding an activity that is easy to participate in and provides a sense of enjoyment.
If you want to host a games afternoon for memory care patients, it's important you choose games that are accessible but provide plenty of enjoyment and variety. Good options that are both fun and mentally stimulating include:
You can also adapt games to suit memory care patients. For example, choose a classic card game for a group but adjust the rules to make them easier to follow.
One of the challenges with memory care residents is that it can be harder to form meaningful and long-lasting bonds. However, tailored memory care activities can be a good way of helping to form these relationships.
Activities provide a relaxed settingwhere residents can engage without feeling too much pressure to communicate or recall facts and names. By taking the pressure away, it reduces stress and frustration and provides a more natural setting for friendships to flourish.
Memory loss can create anxiety for a lot of people as they get older, but take comfort in the fact there is a lot you can do to support your cognitive health. Add one of these memory care activities to your weekly schedule and take a proactive approach to your mental and cognitive health.
Explore our fantastic senior living community at The Landing of Brighton, and see the first-class support we have available for memory care seniors. You'll discover compassionate care from an expert team and a wealth of on-site activities to keep you or a loved one engaged in retirement.