Seniors Need to Exercise Their Brain as Well as Their Body

As we age, engaging in memory exercises is just important as physically excising our bodies. The Alzheimer’s Association offers recommendations on some easy ways to daily exercise our brain with activities that include reading, writing and doing crossword or other puzzles, playing games and attending events such as lectures or plays.   

They state that there are four areas we can work on to help reduce our risk of cognitive decline: physical health and exercise, diet and nutrition, cognitive activity, and social engagement.  In fact research has found that simply by keeping our brains active, we can actually increase its vitality and may even help to generate new brain cells.    

An article on the “6 simple steps to keep your mind sharp at any age” from the Harvard Health Publication outlines ways to help prevent cognitive decline and reduce your risk of dementia.  The article stresses the importance of continuing to learn as challenging our brains with mental exercises is “believed to activate processes that help maintain individual brain cells and stimulate communication among them.” 

MorningStar of Glendale could not agree more.  Once our community opens in late 2018, our calendar will be loaded with activities that are not only fun but also help to stimulate our brains.  Just a quick look at the monthly calendar of other MorningStar communities shows an abundance of activities such as word, board, and trivia games that help to challenge our brains.  Residents at MorningStar enjoy games such as Yahtzee, trivia, Jeopardy, Bingo, Scrabble, The Price is Right, or Uno.   

Regardless of personal interest, our seniors will find plenty to do to keep them interested in life.  With a range of activities such as reading and knitting groups, arts and crafts, and fun-filled card games, residents stay social and keep their brains active.   

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Glendale, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities.  Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve.  Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a beautiful setting, we encourage you to see for yourself the finest senior living in Glendale AZ.

Sources: alz.org/we_can_help_stay_mentally_active.asp

health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/6-simple-steps-to-keep-your-mind-sharp-at-any-age