If you exercise your muscles, they become stronger. The same is true with your brain. The brain changes as we age in a way that makes it more difficult to block out distractions. Activities that engage the mind and require concentration help to retrain the brain to ignore distractions.
Some excellent ways to exercise the brain are with different kinds of puzzles, including crossword, Sudoku, word search, jigsaw and logic puzzles. Seniors may need special features like large print if their vision is poor or large jigsaw pieces if they have trouble with dexterity. There are a number of stores that carry these special puzzles that are geared to adults so that they can enjoy these puzzles without frustration or confusion.
Many of these puzzles are available online or in magazines so they can take their puzzles with them when they travel or sit in a doctor's waiting room. Jigsaw puzzles require a table that can be dedicated to putting them together and can each give days of pleasure. They can also be a fun bonding activity for seniors and their grandchildren.
Some seniors who have enjoyed doing word puzzles all their life may find them becoming more difficult and frustrating as they age. They may need to switch to easier puzzles that will allow them to continue enjoying this pastime.
It's recommended that seniors should spend at least 15 to 20 minutes several times a week engaging in this kind of activity to maintain mental acuity and the ability to concentrate.
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