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While many people accept the inevitability of growing older at some point in their lives, not all can cope with the changes that come with it. Getting older means more than just bodily changes and having to rely on mobility aids like lightweight foldable wheelchairs in Singapore; it also includes the restructuring of the brain, which can affect our thinking abilities and memory.
Although it is perfectly normal to experience a decline in cognitive processing and mental acuity when recalling information, it should not reach the point where it significantly interferes with daily functions. This outlines the importance of keeping our mind as active as our physical body.
Read on as we go over the early symptoms of poot mental health and cognitive decline in seniors, and useful tips to improve and maintain it.
Mental health refers to the psychological, social, and emotional aspects of a person’s well-being. A decline in one’s mental health usually affects how we think, act, and feel, and some of the general signs that point to this include:
Unlike the signs of poor mental health, those that stem from cognitive decline are more subtle and typically vary from one person to another. Some of the early indicators are:
There are many causes that can increase the risk of cognitive decline among the elderly, aside from natural ageing. These include poor diet, social isolation, certain diseases like stroke and Parkinson’s, depression, and smoking, to name a few.
Beyond the usual tips, such as eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, getting quality sleep, and staying connected, the following are the most important steps to maintaining good brain health among your elderly loved ones.
1. Have them engage in mentally challenging activities
Just like the body, the brain also needs sufficient stimulation and activity to stay healthy and sharp and keep cognitive decline at bay. Harvard Health recommends brain games to enhance key thinking skills such as short-term memory, processing speed, decision-making, planning skills, and even reaction time.
Engaging in these games and other challenging mental activities helps support the brain by improving its many synaptic connections. Ultimately, this leads to enhanced cognitive reserve and makes a person’s mind more resilient to ageing-related changes. Moreover, constant cognitive engagement promotes neuroplasticity and counteracts mental decline.
2. Make sure they keep up with their hobbies
Helping your elderly family members enjoy their hobbies, be it reading, playing chess, or something else, significantly helps bolster their overall cognition by keeping their minds active. Whether it's painting, knitting, gardening, or cooking, pursuing hobbies can improve cognitive function and mental well-being by keeping the brain engaged.
Staying connected to activities they’ve always loved also brings joy and helps alleviate feelings of loneliness or depression. Encouraging elderly family members to continue their hobbies or modify them if needed (e.g., using adaptive tools and daily living aids) can significantly enhance their quality of life.
3. Encourage and support them in learning new skills
Besides being fun and exciting, learning something new is one of the best ways to stimulate the brain. Many studies conducted on elderly participants have shown that those who learned new skills achieved noticeable improvements compared to those who solely engaged in social activities or less cognitive-related pursuits.
Moreover, other research findings show that lifelong learning helps form new neural connections and slows down cognitive decline. Providing support, such as arranging classes or learning resources, will encourage them to keep challenging their minds.
4. Protect your loved ones from falls
Head injuries are another potential cause of cognitive problems, and the most common way to suffer from such incidents during one’s golden years is through falls. To keep your senior family members from suffering a fall, consider implementing all the fall prevention measures that apply to your particular home layout. Some examples include installing shower railings and using shower chairs in the bathroom, removing loose rugs and other tripping hazards, and providing proper footwear.
Conclusion
Maintaining a healthy mind as you age is just as important as keeping your body fit and strong. By being proactive in helping improve your elderly loved ones’ cognition, you can significantly impact their quality of life in many ways. Moreover, you ensure they steer clear of the potential factors associated with mental decline, such as hearing loss, high blood pressure, and various gastrointestinal conditions.
At The Golden Concepts, we curate a wide range of elderly assistive equipment and mobility aids to enable our loved ones to age well. Check out our website today and explore our extensive selection of products to keep your loved ones mobile and independent.
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