5 Brain-Boosting Board Games for Aging Adults

Board games not only allow seniors the opportunity to spend time with others, regularly playing board games can also give them a brain boost. A 2013 study published in British Medical Journal Open found that seniors who regularly played board games had a reduced risk of developing dementia. Try playing one of these games with your senior loved one to strengthen his or her brain and have fun with each other.

1. Chess

Chess has been long thought of as a game for the intelligent. Not only can regularly playing chess raise IQ, it can also reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that seniors over the age of 75 who regularly played chess were less likely to develop dementia. Chess encourages the brain to strategize by creating responsive patterns that can help win the game, and it also fosters memory growth.
Playing games with seniors is a great way to keep them mentally active, boost their self-esteem, and enhance their quality of life. Maintaining a high quality of life can be challenging for some seniors, but professional caregivers can help them obtain this goal. Families can trust in Dayton, Ohio, home care experts to help their elderly loved ones focus on lifestyle choices that increase the chances of living a longer and healthier life.

2. Scrabble

Scrabble forces the brain to work by stimulating the areas responsible for word recall and letter recognition. A study conducted by a team at the University of Calgary found that people who regularly played Scrabble began utilizing the parts of the brain normally associated with working memory and visual processing. Regularly stimulating various parts of the brain can keep your loved one mentally sharp.

3. Clue

This mystery game allows your loved one to figure out who is behind the murder by piecing together various clues and narrowing a list of suspects. Though it seems simple, playing Clue with your loved one can strengthen his or her brain. The game requires using logic to eliminate the incorrect suspects. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley found that seniors who engaged in logic puzzles had lower levels of beta-amyloid in their brains. The beta-amyloid buildup is believed to contribute to Alzheimer’s.

If your loved one is living with Alzheimer’s and requires additional care to manage the symptoms, a professional caregiver can help. Living with a serious health condition can make it challenging for seniors to age in place. However, they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of professional live-in care. Dayton seniors can benefit from assistance with meal prep, bathing, transportation to the doctor’s office, medication reminders, and much more.

4. Risk

Playing Risk gives your loved one the opportunity to build an army, establish military objectives, and gain world domination without leaving the living room. This complex game encourages seniors to strategize and use logic to acquire other player’s territories to ultimately win the game.

5. Monopoly

Let your loved one put his or her finance and investing skills to work while he or she creates a business empire that forces the other players into bankruptcy. Monopoly can boost your loved one’s brain health by exercising the cerebral cortex. Players strategize and use basic math skills as they buy and build various properties. Exercising the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for thought processes, memory, and perception, can help your loved one stay mentally fit.
If your senior loved one is already living with some level of cognitive decline, it may be beneficial to hire a respite caregiver. Dayton respite care professionals can assist seniors with a wide array of daily tasks, offering family caregivers the chance to focus on other personal responsibilities or take a break to prevent burnout. Whether it’s for a few hours a day or a few days a week, respite care is the perfect solution for family caregivers who are feeling overwhelmed. Call Home Care Assistance at [hca_phone] today and hire a dedicated caregiver for your senior loved one.

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