Couch Brain? Not at this Senior Living Community.*
We’ve all heard of couch potatoes. Did you know there are couch brains? We were taught to approach life by cramming our heads full of as much knowledge as we could stomach between the ages of 0 to 25. For some of us that wasn’t much. We may have goofed off in school. We might even have dropped out. Even those of us who stuck it out and secured a college degree tended to specialize if we continued in the same career track.
In general, by 40 we stopped investing in learning new things. We were happy to be good at our jobs and keep our focus on those things that helped us reach retirement.
Unfortunately, this path is one that sets us up for mental decline. Our brains never completely lose that ‘use it or lose it’ function we’re born with. Thus a couch brain becomes as flabby as a couch body.
Fortunately, your brain is hungry to learn no matter your age. It’s wiling to shape up, so treating your brain to some neuron stimulating activities helps it like exercise builds muscles. This is what drives the programs we offer at our senior living community.
Our Strategies for Strengthening Your Brain
Each of these activities leverage neuroplasticity.
- Ignore the pundits that say you can’t learn a new language after 50. Yes, it’s more difficult. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible. In fact, a recent Facebook-based study found “thousands of adults who started learning [English] after 20 years old scored in a native-level range.” [source] You’ll strengthen the language center of your brain.
- Take up logic puzzles, Sudoku, cryptograms, crossword puzzles. If you consider looking for the answer cheating, rethink that mentality. Newer teaching methods recognize that this is one of the best ways to learn. For example in math class, today’s students may be encouraged to check the answer, reconfirm the method they’re using to reach the correct answer, and to continue comparing answer with process until they’ve mastered the math skill. It’s only cheating during an exam.
- Exercise your non-dominant side. Try eating with your left hand if you’re right handed. Learn to roll small balls of dough simultaneously with both hands.
- Master a new technology. You don’t have to tackle all the technology out there. Just master those that help you communicate with your family and friends. Stay in touch with your grandchildren through Facebook via a computer or smart phone.
- Take up a new interest. Start journaling. Write your life story. Join a book club. Pursue something you’ve always been interested in but put off for another day. Participate in a focus group. The ideas are endless.
- Volunteer. Help at a food bank. Assist donors at the blood bank with registering or snacks. Participate in an adult reading program. Mentor a foster child. There are many volunteer opportunities. Helping others is one of the best ways to keep a cheerful outlook on life.
- Take up exercise that challenges you. A study in Germany found that seniors who participated in 20 1-hour sessions over 3 to 6 months reported significant improvement in well-being. Those who just took cognitive training or simple motor training sessions stayed the same. [source]
Ultimately, you’ll strengthen your brain the most if you’re doing something that’s meaningful to you. Forget grit and get through it. It’s counterproductive.
In our senior living community, we believe life is best when our care givers facilitate the highest quality of life for each member. The activities we provide are designed to fulfill your mental, physical and emotional needs. A holistic approach is the best way to boost memory and health.
Can You Teach Your Old Brain New Tricks?
The answer is an unqualified yes! National Geographic isn’t the only one saying so.[source] The idea baby boomers grew up with—that their brains were permanently wired once they left puberty—has to give way to the evidence. Now that we can scan the brain as it’s working, we can prove our brains are malleable. Scientists call it neuroplasticity.
This is good news for seniors. It means that a stroke may not mean permanent disability, especially when the symptoms are recognized early enough to reduce damage within the brain. Even old brains will reorganize and transfer functions to healthy parts of the brain.
So gather up your energy. If you only tackle one brain activating option, you’ll enjoy life more and stay cogent longer.
* The name of the community has been omitted.