Strokes are scary for the person they are affecting and for the bystanders like you who witness them. It can be hard to understand how to care for your senior after they’ve experienced a stroke, and it can be scary to allow them to age in place after such an event occurs. Survivors of a stroke suffer damage to regions of the brain that are responsible for cognitive processes. Strokes produce a variety of problems concerning attention, language, memory, and vision. Nevertheless, cognitive activities may also improve performance by activating neurons.
If you think your senior needs more help than you can give after having a stroke, it may be time to consider hiring home care assistance to help them out. There are some things that a senior may not be comfortable asking their adult child to do. Home care assistance can help a senior bathe, change, and eat after a stroke; this may not be something your parents wish you to do or witness. It can be more comforting to have home care assistance help them and encourage them to do the following activities.
Try Playing Board Games With Them
Scrabble, chess, and checkers are examples of games that exercise the analytical and visual brain areas. Players are required to evaluate the board and devise ways to outsmart their opponents. The games also need memory to remember how to move game pieces or properly spell words. Moving little game pieces during a game helps to improve fine motor abilities. Card games are further beneficial for memory, strategy, and visual stimulation.
Art Projects or Crafting
Crafting is an additional means of stimulating numerous brain regions. Playing with modeling clay improves fine motor skills and stimulates the visual and problem-solving centers of the brain. Seniors may also choose to explore painting or drawing. Using a pencil to draw shapes on paper improves visual/spatial acuity. Adult coloring has been an on-going trend in recent years. Consequently, coloring books and pages are widely accessible and may be finished using crayons or colored markers.
After Having a Stroke, Seniors Should Listen to Music
When a person plays a musical instrument, cerebral activity increases. The activity in both hemispheres is extremely pronounced when a musician plays an instrument requiring both hands. Consider playing the elderly individual’s preferred music. Perhaps promote the learning of something as fundamental as the keyboard.
They Can Try Doing Puzzles
Crossword puzzles are a great way to improve memory and other cognitive skills. Sudoku is another form of puzzle that stimulates memory and strategy. It demands completing each grid’s squares with the numbers one through nine without repeating any rows. Daily newspapers, the Internet, and published books all have puzzles.
Seniors Should Always Opt for Reading
Reading involves visual stimulation and the ability to remember the pronunciation and meaning of each word. It also promotes brain plasticity, prompting neurons to become more active and establish more communication pathways. This is something that can be budget-friendly and a fun outing for a senior. They can go to their local bookstore or a library to find a book they want to read.
If you or an aging loved one is considering home care assistance in St. Paul, MN, and the surrounding areas, please contact the friendly staff at CareBuilders at Home Minnesota. Call today 612-260-2273.
