Personal Care at Home: Stimulating Activities May Help Slow Down Alzheimer’s

By James Bennett | February 3, 2022 |

Did you know that mental stimulation can help reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia? A lot of people have heard this in the past, though they may not take it seriously as they should or could, especially from midlife on. However, did you also know that some research studies indicate that mental stimulation, even after formal diagnosis for Alzheimer’s, may help to slow down the progression of memory loss (Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation)? Having personal care at home services to work with your loved one would be beneficial.

Personal Care at Home Greenville SC – Personal Care at Home: Stimulating Activities May Help Slow Down Alzheimer’s

The studies are still ongoing to determine exactly why this is the case, but if you understand the brain is a muscle, like all other muscles in the body, it makes sense.

If you have weakness in your legs, what do you do to gain strength? You exercise them. Maybe you start out with slow, casual walks that eventually lead to jogging, running, or sprinting. Maybe go swimming or cycling. Whatever you do, pushing those muscles helps to strengthen them.

The same holds true for the heart muscle. If your doctor has told you to exercise and elevate the heart rate for at least 15 minutes every day to strengthen your heart, why would she tell you that? Because the only way for the muscles to become stronger, is to exercise.

Now, the brain is quite a bit different than the muscles in your leg or even the ones in your heart. However, exercise can make a world of difference. That’s exactly what mentally stimulating activities can do.

Now, what types of activities may stimulate the brain in the right way and how personal care at home can help?

Strategic thinking games.

Have you ever played chess? If not, this is a wonderful game that requires you to think ahead. It requires you to strategize, to consider your opponent’s moves, what their potential moves will be, and what your options are.

It requires concentration. That is why chess and other strategic thinking games can be so beneficial at helping aging seniors diagnosed with Alzheimer’s potentially delay the more serious components of memory loss. And remember, even if it’s just for a couple of months, a couple of months of more control, more autonomy, and a higher quality of life the senior can hold onto.

Reading and writing.

Reading, especially reading fictional novels or nonfiction books that are rich in description, can stimulate the brain quite a bit. That’s because these descriptions require the individual to use their own experiences to paint a frame of reference from the words.

Writing is an incredibly beneficial active activity that stimulates the neural structures in the brain significantly. Writing one’s memoir, a journal every day about what they do, and so on can be a simple, yet tremendously beneficial activity for seniors with Alzheimer’s.

Doing the crossword puzzle.

Maybe the senior has never done the crossword puzzle before. That’s okay. There are plenty of beginner crossword puzzles that help seniors get the hang of things, understand how they work, and get a frame of reference.

Then, when the senior is doing them consistently, every day, they are enjoying some great mental stimulation that could have a positive impact on their mental function in the years ahead.

**If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Personal Care at Home Services in Greenville SC, please contact the caring staff at Upstate Home Care Solutions today. Call (864) 527-0455.**

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James Bennett

Owner at Upsate Home Care Solutions

James Bennett is a native of Taylors, SC. A graduate of Riverside High School, he attended Clemson University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Packing Science. Upon graduation, he commenced on a career path in food manufacturing with Nestle Frozen Foods (1999 – 2008) and Country Fresh, Inc. (2008 – 2011). When James was only 12, his father, at the age of 37, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).With both an ailing father and a grandmother suffering from several medical conditions, James Bennett and his family were able to unify and provide their loved ones with the home care they needed. Their family structure and consistent schedule were key aspects in providing care. Unfortunately, not all families have the structure, resources, or flexibility to provide the home care their loved one desires. James understands the difficulties families and caregivers encounter while providing and caring for loved ones. A loving son, husband, and father who understands the need to help families, James created Upstate Home Health Care Solutions, LLC in 2011 to fill in the gap for families who need caring individuals to assist with a loved one’s home care needs.

• Greenville Chamber of Commerce Minority Business of the Year 2017
• Greenville Chamber of Commerce Minority Business Accelerator (MBA) Program participant 2017
• Greenville Chamber of Commerce MBA Excellence Award Recipient 2017
• Featured on the cover Upstate Business Journal June 2016
• Community Works Economic Impact Award 2016
• Board Member of Ten at the Top (TATT) and Fire Pit Ranch (FPR)
• Member of Upstate Senior Network, Greenville & Spartanburg Chapters
• Member of the Healthcare division of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce
• Member of the Better Business Bureau
• Staff member of Palmetto Boys State sponsored by the American Legion
• Member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.