A strong spring routine can help reduce cognitive decline in a senior while ensuring mental calm and clarity.
As reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 1 in 10 adults over the age of 45 report experiencing worsening memory loss or cognitive decline as they get older. A senior who lives in assisted living in Roanoke, VA, a mountain city situated in the Blue Ridge region of southwest Virginia, can benefit from the structure and routine that they experience during the spring season.
A strong spring routine can make a positive impact on a senior's health, helping to reduce uncertainty in their lives. This, in turn, can greatly reduce their levels of stress and anxiety and help them remain in a calm and positive state from day to day.
A lifestyle that is full of unexpected events can be especially difficult for seniors who have experienced cognitive decline and who are dealing with problems such as memory loss and dementia. With more consistency in their spring routines, seniors will be able to better manage their daily lives and can feel a greater sense of independence and emotional wellness, even if they have experienced significant cognitive decline.
With the right Roanoke senior lifestyle activities, seniors can slow cognitive decline and experience a boost in cognitive function. Here are some activities that seniors may want to add to their routine to improve their cognitive health.
Playing games is a great way for a senior to have some fun while also strengthening cognitive engagement and giving their brain a workout in senior living. While many games can help with these goals, brain games such as crossword puzzles and Sudoku puzzles can be particularly useful for seniors who want to maintain brain health in spring.
Socializing with friends and family and spending time building new social connections can not only be a lot of fun but may also provide significant cognitive and mental health benefits. Socializing can help keep the mind active, and as a result, may reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive decline as a person gets older.
A senior who works diligently to stay curious as they age will likely experience less cognitive decline over the years. Participating in new activities on a regular basis and working to maintain creative routines for aging may help seniors keep their minds active and can go a long way toward slowing cognitive decline.
Seniors who make a point of playing music or listening to music will likely experience some major benefits. Music can help a senior maintain cognitive and emotional health. According to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation, consistently listening to music may even reduce a senior's dementia risk by nearly 40 percent.
While a strong routine can help a senior age well and feel more at ease, incorporating healthy habits into it can go a long way toward improving emotional and cognitive seasonal wellness. A senior should ensure that their routine is healthy by scheduling healthy meals, exercise, and plenty of time for quality sleep.
Some cognitive decline can be reversed, but the ability to do so depends on its cause. Many problems may lead to cognitive decline. If cognitive decline is caused by problems such as a deficiency in certain vitamins or nutrients or due to the side effects of a medication, it can typically be reversed.
On the other hand, diseases such as Alzheimer's can't be reversed. However, the progression of these diseases can be slowed down when the right efforts are made.
In both cases, certain lifestyle changes can make all the difference, helping to either reverse cognitive decline or prevent it from progressing as quickly.
Seniors tend to display certain signs as they begin to experience cognitive decline. One of the most common signs that a senior may display early on as these changes begin to occur is difficulty with short-term memory.
A senior who is experiencing cognitive decline may forget where they put things, such as their keys, or need to get people to repeat themselves often in conversation. They may also have a difficult time coming up with the right words themselves when speaking with someone.
Other signs may begin to appear as a senior loses their cognitive faculties, such as:
Although there are a lot of things that can slow cognitive decline, many things can cause it to speed up as well. Some things that could lead to increased cognitive decline in the elderly include:
Working to eliminate these issues can be well worth the effort and can help seniors maintain their cognitive well-being for longer.
Adopting a consistent spring routine can help seniors reduce cognitive decline while ensuring mental calm and clarity. Seniors will be able to breathe easier knowing what to expect each day, and can have an easier time getting through each day while maintaining a feeling of independence.
Seniors who need assisted living in Roanoke, VA, find that TerraBella Pheasant Ridge is a great option. With both assisted living and memory care options available and with amenities including restaurant-style dining with table service, a professional beauty salon and barber shop, and daily events and activities, TerraBella Pheasant Ridge is a great choice for Virginia seniors.
Are you in need of senior assisted living in Roanoke? Reach out to us now to find out more about our senior living options and to discover what TerraBella Pheasant Ridge offers seniors in Virginia.