13 Jul Exercising the Elderly Mind
Exercising to Avoid Elderly Problems
Elderly minds, just like elderly bodies, vary from person to person. Not all elderly minds exhibit the symptoms of elderly problems. The frailest elderly people can shock the socks off those who deal with them on a daily basis by grasping ideas and concepts with razor sharp alacrity. Contrarily, another elderly person might have all the muscle tone of someone thirty years younger but little mental agility to compliment their physical capabilities.
It is perhaps one of life’s little practical jokes that the human mind sometimes deteriorates at a slower – or even a faster – rate than the body. Elderly problems manifest themselves in combinations, making individual treatment a matter of individual assessment. And so it should be. Human beings are a complex bunch and no two are the same, we are assured. If they were, they would be a boring set of critters, albeit with all the same elderly problems and related nuisances!
Exercising the mind in the elderly need not be the kind of project requiring a towel around the neck and a bottle of Bourbon before you can even consider what to do next. Elderly problems, especially those of the mind, do not hit the population with the force of a meteorite collision. Such things appear in a gentle mist of forgetfulness, each day filled with more absent mindedness than the last, until the person is beset by all the practical obstacles caused by their inability to think clearly. Independence slowly fades away and elderly problems triumph, leaving the elderly victim confused and condemned to living a dependant old age.
With the possible exception of those suffering the onset of diseases widely associated with the elderly, such as Alzheimer’s Syndrome, the older mind can be encouraged to stay alert long into advanced old age simply by exercising brain cells on a regular basis. Elderly problems may be minimized and sometimes entirely eradicated by keeping the mind functioning in a productive manner. Elderly problems such as forgetfulness, confusion and losing a grip on reality can all be kept at bay simply by doing daily crosswords or puzzles, exercising the brain by completing aptitude exercises on handy electronic games, playing Scrabble or Poker and being generally sociable within peer groups.
Activities that have a hand-to-brain function are even more valuable, such as knitting, sewing, model building and painting, requiring a compatibility of faculties to keep cells both physical and mental on their toes and in ship shape condition.
Slowness and inactivity need not be a feature of old age. Vigilance and frequent activity can lead those who anticipate elderly problems into a confident and enjoyable old age without any of the inherent difficulties. An optimistic program of care combined with a determination to enjoy life can achieve wonders.
The Psychological Article on Exercising the Elderly Mind is part of Boomer Yearbook’s continuing coaching series of suggestions to alleviate elderly problems. We believe knowledge is power. We’d love to hear what you think.
Boomer Yearbook is Psychological Articles for Baby Boomers. Connect with old and new friends, or expand your mind and ward off senior moments and elderly problems with dream analysis and online optical illusions and brain games provided by clinical psychologist Dr. Karen Turner. Join other Baby Boomers to stay informed, receive weekly Newsfeeds, and let your opinions be heard. Baby boomers changed the world. We’re not done yet!
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.