Games for Seniors to Stimulate the Brain
Have you ever gone into a room to get something and forgotten what you went for? Or you were talking to a friend and forgot the name of a place or a person?
That happens to everyone, but delayed recall becomes more common for seniors. It usually does not mean anything serious is wrong with your brain; recall is just less quick as we get older.
There are ways to help stimulate memories and brain functions, however, and many stimulation activities can be a lot of fun. You probably loved to play games when you were a child, but as you got older and busier, you may have stopped playing games as much.
Well, it is time to start again. Reclaim that youthful brain and have fun in the process!
Benefits of Playing Games
We know we exercise our bodies to keep from losing strength and mobility. Did you know that we need to place the same priority on exercising the brain?
Check out the brain benefits of playing games!
- Sharpens thinking skills. Just as exercise improves bone strength, so games improve thinking skills, engage the brain, and delay age-related mental slowdown.
- Exercises the brain. Games work out different parts of the mind. Depending on the games, they help with executive function, processing speed, increasing word recall, and helping with word arrangement. Learning new things creates new connections in the brain, which makes it healthier and stronger.
- Gives a feeling of control. Games are fun, so they help create a positive outlook, encourage independence, and promote feelings of accomplishment.
- Helps you connect with others. Games played with family members, grandchildren, neighbors, or residents of your facility provide companionship, strengthen family relations, and foster new friendships.
Now, which games should you play?
Games with Others
- Bingo is a fun social game that can be played in large groups. Some restaurants have Bingo Nights, or they’re scheduled at Senior Centers, libraries, or social gathering places. The health benefits include exercising hearing to listen for Bingo numbers, exercising sight to look for numbers on your card, and employing tactile senses in moving game pieces and markers.
- Checkers, Chess, Mahjong, and Backgammon are strategy games that employ eye-hand coordination to move pieces around a game board.
- Scrabble challenges thinking skills, vocabulary recall, and strategy as you devise words to connect on the board. It can be played with all ages and be a great family game.
- Trivia games, like Bingo, are often played at community game nights. They challenge contestants’ memory in answering random questions. Trivia can be played in teams, individually, or in groups.
- Card Games run the gamut from Rummy, Hearts, Poker, Euchre, Canasta, and Bridge to family-friendly games such as Uno, War, Go Fish, and Old Maid. Some are games of strategy, and some of chance, but all keep the brain engaged.
- Dominos and dice may be played with just one other person and usually involve thinking and strategy.
Games to Play Alone
Don’t have friends or family members to play games with? Challenge yourself to these single-player games.
Sudoku is a game of math strategy that can be found in sudoku books or online. It is a numbers strategy game using the numerals 1-9, correctly placing them in the cells so the numbers are only used once in each column.
Crossword Puzzles can be found online, in crossword books, or in the daily newspaper. Correctly fitting words in intersecting up-and-down configurations requires thinking and word recall.
Jigsaw Puzzles are available from simple to complex–100 pieces to 3000 pieces for the ambitious! Jigsaw puzzles challenge spatial awareness, strategy, and problem-solving skills. If you have room for a table to spread the pieces, you can work on a jigsaw for days.
Solitaire is a card game you play by yourself. It can be very compelling and is full of chance and strategy.
Word Puzzles and Brain Teasers Wordle, Word Searches, and Words With Friends are some popular games on mobile devices. Play against random online opponents.
TV Games Jeopardy and other TV shows can challenge your brain as you and the show contestants try to guess the winning phrase before the buzzer sounds.
Online Games
You can play many brain-stimulation games online with a computer, smartphone, or tablet.
- Several free online games claim that if played daily, they will help you train your brain to think in a clearer manner. Many of these are free, fun, and helpful. Luminosity, Brain Well, Elevate, Brain Wars, Peak, and Happify are among them. Try these for some brain training.
- Sudoku, Solitaire, logic puzzles, and Tangrams are online thinking puzzles that can be fun.
- Video Games can be accessed online; others may require a game system like PlayStation or Xbox. Super Mario Brothers is a fun game to try that increases your thinking and your eye hand coordination. Wii sports games like pingpong call for mental and physical participation.
Did you ever think there could be so many game options? You may not be a fan of all of them, but there are a few that you could enjoy. Play them with friends, family, or by yourself.
If you don’t know how to play these games, there are instructions online, or you can ask a friend or family member. Try one of these today!
