Is Your Elderly Relative Forgetful? Here are Ways to Help

It is common knowledge that as people age, they tend to be more forgetful. Outside of certain conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, general forgetfulness is extremely typical in elderly people. However, many people don’t realize that there are many ways to combat forgetfulness in seniors. Family caregivers that take elderly care seriously can help their relatives boost their brain power and enhance their cognitive abilities.

The best ways to combat forgetfulness is to focus on both physical and mental health. From eating the right foods and getting enough sleep to exercising the mind through new activities, elderly care that includes memory boosts can really benefit seniors.

Here are 7 ways that family caregivers can help their elderly relatives stay sharp and be less forgetful:

1. Play Games: There’s no doubt that mental stimulation can come in many ways and one of the most fun is playing games. From cards and checkers to board games and video games, seniors can get a good mental workout by enjoying regular games with friends and family.
2. Learn Something Completely New: It can be a foreign language, hobby, or musical instrument, as long as seniors are forcing their brain to solve problems and make new connections.
3. Do Old Things in New Ways: It’s easy to fall into a habit of doing things a certain way, but studies show that performing routine tasks in slightly different ways can stimulate the brain. Examples include brushing your teeth with the non-dominant hand, walking a different route through the park, and trying new recipes.
4. Get Quality Sleep: Seniors are notorious for not getting enough sleep, but lack of rest can lead to impaired cognitive ability. With the right amount of hours asleep, the brain is rested enough to perform at its best.
5. Memorize Things: Memorizing can help hone the brain’s recall abilities. It can be the shopping list, a poem, scriptures, song lyrics, jokes, or parts of an inspiring speech. The more seniors can memorize and recall the words, the less forgetful they will be.
6. Meditation and Mindfulness: The mind/body connection is powerful and meditation is an ideal way to achieve mental clarity and health. Proper meditation techniques can slow down age-related forgetfulness by training the brain to focus and concentrate better.
7. Stay Organized: No matter what age, an unorganized person will be more forgetful. With seniors who are already battling some forgetfulness, organization is extra important. Use calendars, day planners, digital reminders and more to get organized.

Family caregivers have an important role to play in making sure that their elderly relatives are as healthy and engaged as they can possibly be. However, it’s easy to only think about their physical needs when it comes to executing elderly care duties. By taking some time to focus on memory and the brain, aging relatives will be happier and healthier for many years to come.

If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Villanova, PA, contact the caring professionals at Reliant At Home Care today (610) 674-6860 .