The Benefits of Mental Stimulation for Seniors with Alzheimer’s Plus 7 Activities to Exercise the Mind

As our loved ones age and begin to decline in physical and mental function, it can become concerning how to provide safe and daily care for them. Regular mental stimulation is important to delay further declines in cognition if they are diagnosed with dementia.

Although it can be stressful to navigate, many tools, care approaches, and facilities can assist you in finding the most appropriate solutions for your senior’s changing needs. 

There are numerous ways to keep your loved one who is dealing with dementia engaged and mentally stimulated on a daily basis, whether it be an individual or group-centered approach. 

Let’s explore some ideas and options for stimulating activities and why they are important.

Does Mental Stimulation Help with Alzheimer’s?

The diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease can be scary, but mental stimulation has been proven to lower the risk of dementia and slow the progress of cognitive declines in people 75 years old and above. 

Activities such as reading, word games, and board games are most effective for supporting mental clarity and may slow progression in the stages of dementia, along with improving quality of life, but there are numerous approaches in which mental stimulation occurs with positive results. 

3 Benefits of Mental Stimulation for Seniors with Alzheimer’s 

#1: May Improve Emotional Well-Being

While those with dementia may live in diverse situations – with some able to remain in their homes with caregivers, some living with children in their homes, and many living in skilled nursing facilities – mental stimulation is essential for emotional well-being. 

Regardless of the living arrangements, the risk of under-stimulation is that it often leads to anxiety, depression, boredom, and sometimes negative behaviors. 

Continued lack of stimulation and isolation can lead to a much faster decline in cognition and physical abilities. With these factors in mind, an engaging and stimulating environment must be provided to the patient as much as possible for optimal quality of life. 

Alternately, the benefits of mental stimulation for Alzheimer’s patients in the forms of socialization with others, music therapies, task completion, reading, or other activities they enjoy not only boost their mood, but improve their feelings of self-identity. In fact, simple socialization ranked the highest for positive impact.

#2: May Support Cognitive Function

Activities that require mental stimulation, such as reading, puzzles, or interactive games, are particularly important for seniors with dementia. 

Studies support activities that focus on personal identity and past experiences are more effective to prevent rapid declines, such as memory exercises and reminiscing on prior times of their life – encouraging the patient to draw from long-term memory banks. 

The act of conversation with open-ended questions and interactions may not seem important, but social engagement and speech can be of utmost importance in a daily routine. 

Additionally, treatments such as neurostimulation, medications, and non-medical approaches are also being developed to combat the progression of dementia by stimulating certain areas of the brain.

#3: Enhances Social Interactions

Social interactions with others are vital to a loved one with dementia, as feelings of confusion and isolation are common. Connecting with others socially promotes conversation, comradery, and may help reduce negative feelings or behaviors. 

Research has been completed noting that patients with dementia may receive as little as two minutes of quality social interactions within the course of the day, leading to feelings of significant isolation and potentially negative behaviors. 

Interactions with others encourage the continued exercise of language and communication – verbal and nonverbal – abilities, allowing these patients to continue to be part of a community, promote autonomy and positive feelings of control. 

How Do You Mentally Stimulate Someone with Alzheimer’s Disease?

During the early stages of dementia, your loved one may withdraw from activities they once enjoyed, but it is vital to keep them stimulated as much as possible. Small group or individual activities may be most beneficial, so they are not overwhelmed by the surrounding environment.

Ideas and activities for mental stimulation involve: 

• Puzzles and games
• Science experiments
• Creative writing
• Arts and crafts
• Housekeeping duties
• Group exercise classes
• Music therapy
• Taking a drive to familiar locations or places with pleasant memories

7 Activities That Provide Mental Stimulation for Seniors with Alzheimer’s 

#1: Puzzles and Games

Participating in cognitively stimulating games and activities may delay not only the onset of dementia but also the progression of cognitive declines.

Word puzzles are effective in engaging long-term memory and past education. In addition to cognitive stimulation, participation in group games also promotes social stimulation and conversation. 

Additional cognitively stimulating games and puzzles include: 

• Sudoku
• Crossword puzzles
• Word search and circle
• Bingo
• Jigsaw puzzles
• Card games (Rummy, Uno, Pinochle, Hearts)
• Chess
• Checkers
• Musical games

#2: Science Experiments

Science experiments are a creative approach to memory engagement exercises and are especially effective due to their interactivity. Science experiments may engage senses such as touch, hearing, smell, and sight to cognitively stimulate numerous areas of the brain. 

Many resources, including websites like Pinterest or the Alzheimer’s Association®, offer ideas on how to build interactive programs for dementia patients. 

#3: Creative Writing

Creative writing may be an excellent way to engage patients’ recall of life events. 

Although some patients may no longer be able to write words and thoughts on paper, family, friends, or nursing facility staff members can dictate their stories for them. 

Questions about their thoughts are a great starting point for additional conversation and elaboration of the events. Writing may be initiated by asking questions regarding important life events, kindled by a photo, or asking about their families.

Not only does this provide an avenue of reminiscing for your loved one, family members may be given a better glimpse into their past – potentially moments they will cherish.

#4: Arts and Crafts

Completing arts and crafts may benefit your loved one in a variety of ways, and it is important to choose a project in which they can participate and positively interact without becoming frustrated. 

These activities can be part of their daily routine, and it may be helpful to complete them at a similar time each day. Some popular arts and crafts for those dealing with Alzheimer’s may involve:

• Creating memory boxes: Choose an important event or time in their life. Gather a few photos, trinkets, postcards, or other small sentimental pieces. Encourage conversation about the pieces during selection and arrangement. Encourage safe participation in arranging the items by cutting, sorting, taping, gluing, etc.; assist with task completion as needed. This activity will engage your loved one cognitively and fine motor skills/hand dexterity. 
• Making collages: Allow your loved one to choose and cut photos and items from magazine pages while discussing why they chose that particular image. Ask open-ended questions about the item and encourage them to further describe the item. Assist them to arrange the images on a board. Write their reasons for choosing the images or words next to the item – you can refer back to the collage for memory exercises at a later time. 
• Assisting your loved one to continue hobbies they enjoyed: For example, if they enjoyed woodworking, simple tools and wood pieces could be provided and utilized with supervision. Provide a sewing kit if they liked needle-crafting. 

There are numerous examples. The most important thing is to engage your loved one in activities of their preference, including visual, cognitive, and tactile stimulation. 

#5: Housekeeping Duties 

While housekeeping chores may not have been favorite chores to complete over the years, tasks such as laundry, dishes, sorting mail, setting the table, and general cleaning are repetitive in nature and are often completed by “muscle memory”. 

Seniors with dementia can be given tasks they have enjoyed completing in the past and feel rewarded by their success and continued independence. 

The tasks offered should be within their physical capabilities and completed easily. If any frustration or difficulty completing the task is noted, the senior should be gently redirected to either stop the task or redirected to another one. It should never be a negative experience for them. 

#6: Group Exercise Classes

Routine physical exercise is an effective approach to reduce the overall risk of dementia. However, regular exercise also aids in the progression of diagnosed dementias. 

Physical activities help avoid anxious or agitated behaviors in those with dementia, along with decreasing impulsive actions that may be unsafe. Physical activity has also been known to decrease symptoms of dementia, such as hallucinations and delusional thoughts. 

Exercise may be done individually or in a group setting, in which socialization is also promoted. There is not a specific form of exercise that is more effective, but optimal mental health is maintained when exercise occurs three to five times per week for 30-45 minutes. 

During exercise, the brain releases endorphins, which can:

• Have a positive impact on the mental state
• Promote feelings of happiness – an important factor to combat the potentially negative aspects of dementia. 

In a group setting, social interaction and exercise may go hand-in-hand, with activities such as interactive games and exercise stimulating both the mind and body. Studies note that not only mood and mobility may improve with routine exercise, but the risk of falls decreases since overall strength and muscle mass is maintained. 

Ideas for group exercises:

• Chair yoga
• Chair dance classes
• Seated aerobic/range of motion exercises
• Group games
• Adapted team sports (i.e. volleyball with a balloon, soccer with a soft kickball, foam-ball basketball) 

#7: Music Therapy

In recent years, studies have been completed on music-related therapies and noted to have a positive impact on those with dementia – including emotional, cognitive, and social benefits, and at times reducing the amount of medications for control of symptoms. 

Brain-imaging studies have shown music stimulates numerous parts of the brain, simultaneously producing:

• Feelings of emotional well-being and happiness
• Feeling competent, and 
• Reduced the perception of isolation. 

Music-based interventions have been particularly effective at reducing anxious and depressive behaviors, along with decreasing overall agitation. 

Even when speech, judgment, and reasoning are impaired due to advanced dementia, music recognition remains intact – those who may suffer speech disorders secondary to dementia can respond positively and recall music from earlier times in their life. 

For example, a senior who may have lost the ability of speech will often will remember words and melodies to favorite songs, or musicians can maintain the ability to play their instruments without difficulty. 

Senior Services of America: Providing Mental Stimulation for Seniors Living with Alzheimer’s Disease

As there are many questions and concerns regarding appropriate care for your loved one facing dementia, know you are not alone. 

We understand how difficult it may be for your loved one to receive the initial diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease, and the continuing challenges the patient and family encounter during further declines. 

The staff at Senior Services of America communities are focused on providing the best physical, emotional, and memory support care for optimal quality of life in any of the stages of dementia. 

Find your nearest memory care community to discuss your loved one’s care needs.

The content in this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.