Most people have memory lapses—when they forget where they put the car keys or that they had an appointment. However, these moments can feel more significant if you're entering your senior years. Whether you live independently or as part of a retirement living community, the following guide offers tips for keeping your mind active.

How to Maintain Your Mental Health as You Get Older

1. Eat a Balanced Diet

Eat balanced meals consisting of fish, poultry, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, berries, and nuts. Retirement living communities often reduce their residents' intake of saturated fats by utilizing healthier alternatives, such as replacing vegetable oil with olive oil. These lifestyle changes can reduce your risk of certain health conditions—including strokes and heart problems—that contribute to certain types of dementia. 

2. Stimulate Your Brain

Play brain-teasers like Sudoku® or crossword puzzles, or participate in games like chess, bridge, or Scrabble®. Read in your spare time or write emails to your family. Consider taking up a hobby, like painting, or learning a new skill, like a foreign language. These activities give your mind a workout, reducing the chance of developing dementia.  

3. Exercise

Physical activity promotes blood flow to the brain and may reduce the risk of dementia and other similar cognitive disorders. Even if you cannot do vigorous exercise, taking a short walk around your retirement living community or going for a swim can help you maintain a healthy weight and keep you sharp.

4. Socialize

Humans are social creatures. Not only does talking to other people help lower one's risk of depression, but the steady back-and-forth of ideas also delays the onset of cognitive decline. Therefore, while exploring new hobbies like those mentioned above, seek to make connections with others pursuing the same activity.

If you are a senior looking to make your golden years as fulfilling as possible, consider moving to Lakeview Christian Home in Carlsbad, NM. As an award-winning retirement living community, we provide opportunities to live independently in one of our beautiful single-family homes while we take care of exterior maintenance and landscaping. This gives you more time to enjoy your amenities—like our heated pool, gardens, or nearby golf course. If you need a little more assistance, we also offer skilled nursing care. To learn more about us, visit our website. Call (575) 885-3161 to schedule a tour.