Board Games for Seniors

Improve Memory and Communication for Seniors with Classic Board Games

It’s no secret that a healthy mind and body can contribute significantly to the anti-aging process. Healthy thinking patterns and brain waves over a consistent period of time can help people of all ages. Seniors in particular are at risk for dementia, Alzheimer’s, and a variety of memory problems. However, there are a variety of games, activities, and experiences that may help to reduce this risk.

Although aging can be a frustrating and challenging time, there are plenty of ways to alleviate the pressures and stresses through games and activities. Identifying some classic board games can help you create a regular and valuable routine; it can help you spend quality time with your elderly friend or loved one, and help them to stay healthy and vibrant in the process.

Engaging in a mentally-stimulating activity on a frequent basis will also help seniors with depression-related issues, loneliness, or other negative mind states. Board games provide an avenue to interact, socialize, and exercise some mental muscle! There are many choices of board games, including card games such as Euchre, and Bridge. All games inolve both right and elft brain hemispheres depending on the type, length, and detail of the board game. Incorporate the following board games into an evening or afternoon get-together; over time, you may notice a variety of postivie improvements and skill developments.

Scrabble
Scrabble is a classic game that requires clever word choices, spelling, and involves memory retrieval. The National Library of Medicine published a study that focused on what parts of the brain were involved when playing scrabble. It turns out that both semantic and short-term memory skills were required to play effectively; this is a great opportunity for seniors to recall basic information, and build a strong set of memory skills in the process. Scrabble is essentially a left-brain activity, as it focuses on the details and smaller puzzles involved with the game.