Tips for Boosting Your Elderly Loved One’s Cognitive Functions

By Shanele Healy | January 18, 2021 |

Cognitive function is one of the biggest discussions surrounding the elderly. As a family caregiver, you might be wondering how to keep your elderly loved one’s cognitive functions intact. While there are some things you can’t stop, most of the time you can help your elderly loved one to boost their cognitive functions. Here are some tips that can help you to start doing this for your elderly loved one.

Have Them Eat More Fish

Elderly Care Indian Trail, NC: Boosting Cognitive Functions

Research and studies show that people that eat fish at least one time each week have a significantly lower risk of getting a neurodegenerative condition. The main reason for this is because fish has DHA in it. DHA is also found in the brain. As people age, sometimes the levels of DHA in their brain are lowered. By eating fish regularly, your elderly loved one can keep their DHA levels up. If needed, you or an elderly care provider can get fish for your loved one at the store every week.

Doing New Things

It is also a good idea to encourage your elderly loved one to do new things. Research shows that doing new things stimulates the brain more than doing things that people already know how to do. Doing the same things over and over again can bore the brain. However, doing new things can challenge the brain, keeping it more active. If your elderly loved one needs ideas of new things to do, you and their elderly care provider can help them. For now, some ideas are reading new books, doing a puzzle, crocheting, learning to play an instrument, or writing a book.

Embracing Naps

If people have been telling your elderly loved one that they shouldn’t take naps, this isn’t necessarily how it should be. Sure, your elderly loved one shouldn’t be napping many times throughout the day or for long periods of time at once. However, they should embrace naps. Research shows that short 15 to 30 minute naps can allow the brain to rest. This can improve your elderly loved one’s memory and recall. It can also give your elderly loved one’s body the chance it needs to rest throughout the day.

Conclusion

These are some of the tips for boosting your elderly loved one’s cognitive functions. As they continue getting older, they may need to do more things to keep their brain sharp and active. For now, you and elderly care providers should encourage your elderly loved one to do at least one of these things every day.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Elderly Care in Indian Trail, NC, please call the professional staff at Caring at Heart today at (704) 379-7510. Serving Charlotte, Statesville, Ballantyne, Mooresville, Huntersville, Matthews, Concord, Gastonia, Pineville and Indian Trail

Sources

https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/7-ways-to-keep-your-memory-sharp-at-any-age

Author
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Shanele Healy

Owner at Caring at Heart

Caring for others has always been a passion for the owner. She joined the healthcare field while still in high school believing that every health provider had the same intentions at heart. While working as a nurse assistant,Gloria quickly realized that those whom needed us most were being neglected and not receiving the best quality of care they deserved.
Knowing in her heart that families deserved better, she started Caring At Heart in 2008 with two key goals in mind: To provide clients and their families with an experience that was personable, easy, and reassuring and to create a working environment that employees were excited and proud to be a part of.