Seniors can play a variety of games to stay involved and mentally active. According to the National Institutes of Health, numerous recent studies and research have found that such best games for mental health help to boost memory, especially for senior citizens.
Even some recent research has found that senior mind games can promote independence, lower the chance of dementia, and even reduce fall risk. Playing memory care games not only increases social connection but playing such games with others might help seniors avoid loneliness, another health concern.
Learn more about the benefits of mind and memory games for seniors’ mental health as well as some of the top brain games for seniors people.
10 best games for improving mental health
Here are the 10 best games for improving the mental health of senior people. You can also try these mindfulness and meditation techniques to help your loved one cope with Dementia.
1. Crossword Puzzles
A crossword puzzle is one that has squares or a rectangular grid of squares with black-and-white shading. The objective is to fill the white squares with letters, creating words or phrases, by figuring out clues that lead to the solutions.
Daily newspapers and magazines publish mostly crossword puzzles. These problems are challenging to tackle both individually and collaboratively in groups. Try word searches or other free word games for seniors if crossword puzzles aren’t your thing.
2. Jigsaw Puzzles
Jigsaw Puzzles are the best way to pass the time, whether you’re working on them by yourself or with others. These puzzles need planning and problem-solving skills, and their difficulty can increase based on the number of pieces, the picture’s layout, or even the puzzle’s shape. They are also reasonably priced and often offered in dollar stores.
Jigsaw Puzzles are one of the best games which can help you to improve brain power and recover from memory loss problems.
3. Chess
Chess is a two-player based board game and it is one of the most popular games to boost mental power. It is sometimes referred to as Western chess or international chess to distinguish it from related games, such as xiangqi and shogi.
This game is a more difficult strategic game that fosters problem-solving and reasoning skills. Chess may appear difficult at first, but the effort is worthwhile because it improves focus and brain functions. You can play chess offline, online, with other people, or alone.
4. Bingo
Many Senior Lifestyle communities, as well as some senior centers and libraries, provide bingo, which is an enjoyable social activity. It encourages social engagement and coping with memory difficulties. Health advantages of playing bingo include hearing improvement, seeing when looking for numbers on the bingo card, and touching while marking the cards with pieces, markers, or daubers.
5. Checkers
This board game is simple to learn for senior people. Logic and basic hand-eye coordination are more important than strategy in this game. There are several game sets available, some with large boards and components that can benefit elderly people with arthritis or vision problems.
6. Online Games for Memory care
Many senior-friendly games are available online. There are online versions of word games, skill games, memory games, and other games. There are games like word searches, jigsaw puzzles, and others that can be played in multiplayer mode for a social experience. Many of these games are available for free.
7. Scrabble
Senior people can play Scrabble with friends and family members or practice against the computer in real-time. This is a great classic board game for seniors and people of all ages. Scrabble is a game that can help you improve your memory and expand your vocabulary. Because it requires at least two players, it is also a social game.
8. Solitaire
Solitaire and other card games help to keep the mind sharp. As solitaire is one of the most popular card games, it may be played both offline and online.
The solitaire game can help to release dopamine hormones, which makes senior members feel happier and gives them more mental energy. This type of card game helps them to develop a positive attitude while also leaving them energized to face new challenges.
9. Sudoku
Sudoku is a number-placement puzzle with a logic combination that is played on a 9×9 sudoku board. The sudoku grid is divided into nine 3×3 squares.
- The goal of sudoku is straightforward. The digits 1 through 9 must appear only once in each row, column, and 3×3 box on the sudoku board!
- The sudoku game becomes harder as the difficulty level increases, and you’ll need to use more advanced and strategic logic to solve the puzzles.
- Sudoku puzzles are a good mental and logical challenge for seniors who want to maintain their mental sharpness. A senior feels accomplished after completing a sudoku puzzle.
- Sudoku is available in a variety of formats, including inexpensive books, online, and software.
10. Trivia Quizzes
Trivia is an excellent method for seniors with dementia or other memory loss problems to get relief from stress, be connected and socially involved with friends, and grow cognitive functions.
- Trivia-type cognitive exercise is one of the best ways for seniors to help control the development of dementia syndrome.
- Trivia quizzes can help seniors stimulate their cerebral cortex and produce dopamine hormone, which is very vital for healthy brain function.
- In many cases, dementia cannot be prevented permanently, but it can be slowed down with proper mental stimulation and healthy living habits.
- Trivia quizzes, such as Trivial Pursuit, are good memory and brain boosters games. These cognitive games are fun and best for any social interaction, and they can spark interesting conversations about similar experiences.
How can a mind game help an elderly person improve their mental health?
There are several ways that playing mind games can increase brain power which might help to improve senior people’s mental health. Most of these games for mental health are beneficial in the following ways:
- Playing games with family members or grandchildren can help seniors maintain a good relationship with their dearest ones. Playing online video games can help senior people communicate with individuals all over the world, which can recover them from being isolated both mentally and psychologically.
- For those who are suffering from dementia and other memory loss problems, these best games for mental health can make them active with more mental activities while also enhancing their brain power.
- The theory holds that engaging in unfamiliar activities would force your mind to develop new connections, improving your brain’s memory.
- Playing games with others offers an advantage for the company, which helps to recover from isolation. Seniors can participate in a chess league, a card game night with pals, or a collective jigsaw puzzle project.
- Playing games can recover from age-related mental decline, much as exercise helps stop the loss of bone and muscle mass. Brain games can stimulate the mind and advance cognitive abilities.
Here you can check the latest breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s research to make your coping strategies more effective.
Conclusion:
Engaging in mental and memory games is a powerful way for seniors to enhance their cognitive abilities, maintain independence, and foster social connections. Games like crossword puzzles, chess, and trivia quizzes provide mental stimulation and can reduce the risk of dementia and other memory loss issues. These activities not only help in keeping the mind sharp but also promote overall well-being by encouraging social interaction and reducing feelings of loneliness. Whether played individually or in groups, these games offer a fun and effective way to support mental health and improve the quality of life for seniors.
