Memory games for elderly people

Improving brain function using games is a strategy that is used even on children. Allocating shapes, piling up blocks and recognizing colors are tasks that promote cognitive development and allow people to live a healthy life. However, the ability to grasp concepts, store information and perform simple tasks decreases with age. The same games that prove useful for children become valuable once more when the challenge is to keep elderly people’s memory healthy.

What are cognitive abilities?

Cognitive abilities are “tools” of the human brain that allow us to grasp concepts, understand ideas, maintain relationships with other people and participate in daily life. In other words, cognitive abilities allow us to obtain knowledge and to understand it by absorbing it using all five senses.

These abilities begin to develop in our first years of life. This phase is essential for a person’s way to deal with their surroundings. Although we are able to develop a number of skills thanks to our cognitive abilities, they don’t last forever. Just like us, they age.

Why do they get worse with age?

The aging process brings with it a number of changes to our brain functions. One of the most frequent changes concerns the speed of information processing. Aging is furthermore accompanied by several changes in behavior such as increased distance from one’s relatives and a routine that lacks physical exertion and other common situations.

Our cognitive abilities reach their peak at 30 years of age and stay there until we are about 50. Even though there are no general rules that apply to all people it is generally accepted that information processing starts to slow down when we turn 50.

• Decreased understanding;
• Impaired ability to think;
• Difficulties carrying out simple tasks;
• Memory loss;
• Attention loss.

In this context it must be underlined that these are natural symptoms accompanying the physical aging process and do not necessarily point to an underlying serious illness. If cognitive decline proceeds faster than usual, however, illnesses such as Alzheimer’s can develop.

The best thing to do is to have elderly people examined by a doctor regularly and to pay attention to atypical behavior. Thus we can make healthy aging easier for our elderly.

How can memory games help elderly people?

Spot the difference games

Cross word puzzles

Card games and Dominoes

Memory

This game can be played alone but it is much more fun to compete with others. The goal is to find pairs of picture cards that are distributed across the table and always stay in the same place. If they want to win the game, the players have to store information. Furthermore, it promotes a healthy sense of competition.

How can elderly people be motivated to play games?

Without a doubt these games can be extremely helpful, but it is not always easy to convince a person of advanced age to participate in such an activity. This is why it is important to find out if the person in question suffers from a more serious limitation that makes them ashamed or prevents them from fully taking part in a game. One of the main causes is hearing loss, which increasingly makes people avoid interaction.

This condition must be treated adequately, for instance with hearing aids that allow people to recover their hearing and re-integrate into social groups.

An elderly person’s interest can also be aroused by making the moment something special, funny or inspiring. For this purpose, you might want to involve family members and create a pleasant environment. Don't be too strict when playing and avoid helping the elderly person out if they fail to complete a task the first time.

Many people don't know how important memory games are for people of advanced age but their effectiveness is a fact and they help thousands of people with healthy aging.

The best thing about this is that they are an affordable solution for everyone, both in financial terms and concerning their implementation. Invest in memory games for elderly people and make aging easier for your loved ones!