When a stroke occurs, the blood supply to the brain is cut off, damaging multiple regions that control how seniors process information, the way they feel, and how they act. Stroke survivors often experience memory loss and cognitive impairment. However, there are ways to preserve your senior loved one’s brain health and speed up the recovery process. Continue reading to learn about cognitive exercises your loved one can do and the benefits each activity provides.
Jigsaw Puzzles
Regardless of how uncomplicated a puzzle may be, merely trying to connect the pieces could strengthen your loved one’s brain function during stroke recovery. The exercise requires seniors to use multiple cognitive abilities while enhancing their visuospatial skills. Even if your loved one doesn’t complete the puzzle, he or she could still receive many benefits from looking at the different pieces and trying to discover where they fit in the bigger picture. The types of brain challenges involved in solving puzzles are stimulating and can restore many functions that were damaged due to the stroke, including problem-solving skills, short-term memory, and attention span.
Certain age-related conditions can make it more challenging for seniors to age in place safely and comfortably, but Altamonte Springs live-in care experts are available around the clock to help seniors manage their health. Whether your loved one is living with dementia or recovering from a stroke, you can trust the professional live-in caregivers from Prestige Home Care Orlando to enhance his or her quality of life.
Musical Activities
Singing songs and playing musical instruments stimulate multiple areas of the brain, and they can have a positive impact on your loved one’s attention span. Trying to remember the words to a song or reading sheet music can rewire the brain while boosting communication abilities. Saying the words of a song repetitively could turn mumbled speech and incoherent sounds into basic phrases over time. Even listening to music for a couple of hours each day can increase cognitive abilities after a stroke. Playing an instrument can increase dexterity, reduce tremors, and restore some of the motor skills that were impacted by the brain attack.
Card Games
Mentally stimulating games can help senior stroke survivors rebuild thinking and problem-solving skills. By playing card games such as solitaire, UNO, and hearts, your loved one can boost his or her memory and critical thinking skills. Playing different games can stimulate sequencing skills and memory. The socialization these games provide can also enhance mental health and prevent depression following a stroke.
An in-home caregiver can be the perfect game-playing partner for your loved one. Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted elderly home care provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Prestige Home Care Orlando is here to help.
Dancing
When family caregivers think of cognitive exercises, physical activities generally don’t come to mind. However, hobbies such as dancing can reduce stress and increase the production of feel-good hormones in the brain. As a result, your loved one could develop new neural connections in areas of the brain that were impacted by the stroke, including regions that control executive function, spatial recognition, and long-term memory.
Professional caregivers can be an incredibly valuable source of support for senior stroke survivors and their families. If your elderly loved one needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Prestige Home Care Orlando, a trusted provider of Orlando homecare. Our caregivers provide transportation to and from medical appointments and social events, nutritious meal preparation, assistance with daily exercise, and help with everyday tasks like bathing, grooming, and light housekeeping. To create a comprehensive in-home care plan for your loved one, call us at (407) 604-0506 today.