The Importance of Brain Health For Older Adults

Do you find yourself thinking of ways to boost your brain health? If you’re entering your golden years, taking steps to improve cognitive function can greatly increase your quality of life in a multitude of ways.

• Brain functionality can significantly impact your ability to engage in activities like spending quality time with your grandchildren and having fun with family and friends.
• The other vital thing to note when it comes to brain health for older adults is that many older adults are at risk of developing neurological issues and mental health disorders as they age, especially forms of dementia.

As you or a loved one ages, incorporating proven techniques into daily life that aid in nurturing the mind and memory can mean all the difference in maintaining brain health and crucial brain functions.

Regardless of your age, there are proactive steps you can take to keep your brain healthy and reduce your risk of developing serious cognitive issues.

Why Is Brain Health for Older Adults so Important?

Your brain tends to lose some of its elasticity as you age, which is why it can be more challenging to make cognitive connections the older you get. This can result in you having a difficult time focusing or a hard time remembering things.

However, by making the effort to ensure your brain is healthy, you can actually help prevent or delay this cognitive decline from happening. You see, mental fitness is just as important as physical fitness, and just like being lazy can make your muscles weak, ignoring your mental health can leave your brain feeling deflated.

Incorporating activities like mental dexterity exercises into your daily routine can help you create a sharper mind and an overall healthier body for years to come.

A healthy brain will continue to be elastic and enable you to learn new things well into older age. The key is to remember that your mental health is just as important as your physical health, so finding ways to stay active in both areas is essential.

How Do You Support Your Cognitive Function & Brain Health? Here Are Five Ways Older Adults Can Maintain Brain Health

1. Play Brain Games.

As previously stated, just as your muscles become stronger with use, your memory and cognitive abilities do as well. In fact, research has shown that brain-training games can help keep older adults sharp for over a decade longer.

When you provide your brain with the appropriate stimulus, you actually counter memory loss and degeneration. Brain games for seniors work to promote cognitive health and a strengthened memory.

Whether it’s the daily crossword puzzle or another game that excites you, it’s important to engage in activities that encourage you to think.

2. Learn a New Skill.

The wonders of technology can now enable you to learn a variety of new skills from anywhere. For example, learning a new language in the privacy of your home allows you to exercise your brain whenever you have time to spare. The same goes for learning all sorts of new skills, whether you want to become a better cook, a proficient painter, an active tennis player, or even a burgeoning musician.

Regardless of your choice, cultivating a new hobby is an excellent way to keep your mind active and engaged.

3. Make Sure to Get Enough Rest.

Getting a restful night’s sleep is one of the simplest things we can do to improve memory power and have the ability to retain new information. A single night of sleep deprivation can impact your ability to think clearly the next day.

Research has shown that while you sleep, your body transfers newly acquired information into your memory. That’s why adults need about seven to nine hours of sleep a night to achieve optimal mental and physical health.

4. Seek Out Social Connectivity.

Were you aware that playing with your grandchildren is not only a blast, but it actually boosts your cognitive ability as well?That’s because when you regularly engage in social activities and stimulating conversations, you’re less likely to develop both depression and dementia. Making the effort to invite your loved ones to spend time together or call them if they’re far away helps keep your mind healthy and your soul full.

5. Stay Active and Eat Healthy.

Maintaining an active and healthy body is essential to achieving a healthy and energetic mind. Recent Alzheimer’s research suggests that making certain lifestyle changes can do more to ward off memory loss than drugs or medical treatments.

For example, a diet that includes fresh food versus processed options tends to be the best for your brain functionality. Additionally, studies have indicated that aerobic activity and resistance training may actually boost brain power in people age 50 and older.

How Jefferson’s Ferry Focuses on Supporting Residents’ Brain Health

At Jefferson’s Ferry, we know your daily habits can directly impact how well your brain functions. A proper diet and active atmosphere can help stave off dementia, Alzheimer’s and other cognitive diseases, which is why taking the necessary steps to keep your brain engaged will positively impact your cognitive ability and overall well-being.

That’s why we offer all residents access to activities to keep enjoying life, a built-in support network to encourage social engagement, and an assurance that all necessities will be taken care of as a resident of our community.

We believe you should have the freedom and independence to make the most of retirement — and do it for as long as possible.

Life at Jefferson’s Ferry means living your life on your own terms, every day.

Learn more about how Jefferson’s Ferry can help you or a loved one improve brain health.

To learn more about our community, or to schedule your personal visit, contact us through our website or call us at 1-631-650-2600.