Geriatric Therapy And Ways To Stimulate The Brain
Many older people suffer from a range of physical as well as emotional and mental health problems. Geriatric therapy seeks to enhance the resilience of the elderly by, among others, addressing their psychological needs. Two common ways of stimulating a positive outlook on life among seniors are cognitive behavioral therapy and recreational therapy.
Below we look at these and other positive coping strategies to deal with the varying challenges of old age.
Geriatric Therapy And Thinking Games
Many seniors who lose friends or family members and who also have physical problems suffer from depression. Interpersonal therapy, combined with medication and loving care, is one strategy aimed at fostering a more positive mindset.
This short-term, structured one-on-one therapy seeks to identify worries and develop ways of overcoming them. It’s about building a person’s inner capacity to cope with the things that life throws at them.
Another approach that is part of geriatric therapy is cognitive therapy, which can help with things like memory loss. Playing chess or other board games, doing trivia quizzes, a sudoku, or a jigsaw, stimulate the brain. They can also be a fun social activity that promotes conversation and helps combat loneliness and depression.
Arts/crafts and new projects
Painting, sketching, embroidery, knitting, woodworking, or writing, provide an outlet for seniors to develop their creative skills. This is a pleasant and affordable way to keep your mind active and your hands busy. And the end product can reflect the time and love embodied in the creation of something personal.
Focusing on a creative task takes your mind off problems and is a core part of any geriatric therapy. Thinking through all the different possibilities for your creation makes you weigh up options, stimulating the brain in the process.
It’s also a good idea to plan ahead and line up a new project to keep your brain stimulated. Challenging yourself by learning or re-learning a language, for instance, could help boost your sense of purpose in life.
Socialization
One of the best ways to stimulate the brain is to have a conversation, especially an impassioned one! Talking to people forces you to remember things, line up your thoughts and express yourself coherently. It’s one of the best ways of staying mentally active, while also showing your love, kindness and compassion to others.
Highly beneficial group activities with a social component include sharing a meal, celebrating a national holiday, or dancing. Indeed, combining, physical activities with brain-stimulating challenges and social interactions helps you stay independent for longer. In essence, this is what geriatric therapy is all about.
Other therapies that help the elderly include pet therapy and live music therapy that are part of recreational therapy.
We, Fairview Adult Day Care Center in Brooklyn NY, offer cognitive therapy and a wide range of recreation therapy – live music, discussion and entertainment programs, arts and crafts, dancing classes and other fun activities. Contact us if you or your loved one would like to know more about our services that also include rehab therapies, nursing care, social services, exercise programs and free door-to-door transportation.
This article is for educational and informational purpose only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. For any questions about your own health condition, speak to a qualified physician or healthcare provider.
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