Games and Seniors: Benefits to Mind and Body by Bethesda Gardens Assisted Living in Phoenix, AZ

There is a great deal of research to prove that exercising the brain is just as important as exercising the body.  Keeping fit physically and mentally will greatly improve our overall health as we age.  Learning new things and trying new activities can and should be entertaining and fun.  Constantly challenging ourselves to walk a little further, swim another lap, and try to solve a bit more difficult puzzle will keep our minds sharp and our bodies feeling younger.

In a government funded study, researchers discovered that brief training sessions for the brain had an impact on improved cognitive thinking even five years later.   Playing games is a great way to exercise our brain.  Puzzles, memory games, and video games are good for increasing concentration and giving us the confidence to solve everyday problems.   Challenging ourselves to start a new hobby or take up activities we have always wanted to try, can help slow or stave off cognitive decline.

The Nintendo Wii has a number of games that according to an article in Senior’s Advocate by Christopher Leto, declares that, “Wii games can increase the ability of older adults to process information and divide attention.  Also, they’re fun”.   The Wii Fit is a perfect game that is suited to a range of fitness abilities.  It has over 40 activities that work on cardio, balance, flexibility, and strengthening.  Dr. Byrant Stamford, of the University of Kentucky, calls the Wii Fit “perfect for seniors”.

Another Wii game is the Big Brain Academy Wii Degree.  It has a multi-player mode (up to 8 players) which makes it fun for a group as well as a single player version.  The games are original with lots of variety.  Wii Degree mini-games measure skills in five basic categories that use identifying, memorizing, analyzing, computing, and visualizing.  There is even an online play component.     

Bethesda Gardens Assisted Living, Phoenix, AZ is an assisted living and short term care community.  In the era of information sharing, how comfortable does it make you feel about sharing your own medical history?  Please follow our latest post about are personal electronichealth records for you?