As your parents and grandparents get older, they’ll experience a number of turns in their health journey. However, one of the most important issues to prevent is cognitive decline, including conditions like dementia. If you’re hoping to keep your loved one as sharp as possible for as long as possible, use these three senior living tips.

How to Help Seniors Keep Mentally Active

1. Sleep

Every age group needs a different amount of sleep per night. For seniors, it’s about six to nine. During this time, brains recharge from the day, actively converting short-term memories into long-term ones. Therefore, while that early morning FaceTime® with the grandkids or a late-night movie might be tempting, encourage the people in your life to get a full night’s sleep. Gifting them relaxing tea, lavender essential oils, or a white noise machine may help them with this.

2. Exercise

The body and mind are connected, which is why inactivity can take a toll on cognitive ability. When your senior loved one takes an aerobics class, walks their dog, or goes for a swim, the flow of blood and oxygen will speed up throughout the body, and the brain will release feel-good hormones called endorphins. In studies, an increase in physical activity lowered the risk of dementia by 20%. You can encourage your senior loved one to get moving just by going for a walk around the neighborhood or heading to a local park. 

3. Engaging Activities

In addition to staying physically active, the brain needs exercise to keep fit. That’s why seniors are encouraged to participate in mentally challenging activities like mazes, crossword puzzles, or Sudoku® games. You can pull out a board game for the family after dinner or give them puzzles as presents. Your senior may also enjoy joining a class with their peers, learning a new hobby, or sorting through their memories at a trivia night. They could even train their brains by playing games on apps on their tablet or phone, such as chess, solitaire, or bridge. 

For senior citizens throughout the Savage, MN, area, Rivers of Life is a haven. They pride themselves on offering an active senior living community, so your loved one will remain physically and mentally engaged. For those with dementia, they provide specialized memory care, so you can rest assured your loved one’s condition and needs will be their first priority. Their certified dementia educators have over 40 years of combined experience. To learn more about their offerings, visit the website, or call (952) 380-8698 to schedule a consultation.