Board Games for Seniors
Although aging can be a frustrating and challenging time, there are plenty of ways to alleviate the pressures and stresses through games and activities. Identifying some classic board games can help you create a regular and valuable routine; it can help you spend quality time with your elderly friend or loved one, and help them to stay healthy and vibrant in the process.
Engaging in a mentally-stimulating activity on a frequent basis will also help seniors with depression-related issues, loneliness, or other negative mind states. Board games provide an avenue to interact, socialize, and exercise some mental muscle! There are many choices of board games, including card games such as Euchre, and Bridge. All games inolve both right and elft brain hemispheres depending on the type, length, and detail of the board game. Incorporate the following board games into an evening or afternoon get-together; over time, you may notice a variety of postivie improvements and skill developments.
Scrabble
Scrabble is a classic game that requires clever word choices, spelling, and involves memory retrieval. The National Library of Medicine published a study that focused on what parts of the brain were involved when playing scrabble. It turns out that both semantic and short-term memory skills were required to play effectively; this is a great opportunity for seniors to recall basic information, and build a strong set of memory skills in the process. Scrabble is essentially a left-brain activity, as it focuses on the details and smaller puzzles involved with the game.
Chess
Chess is another highly left-brain activity, and requires skill, intelligence, and planning ability. When seniors have been playing the game for a period of years, it can become a great opportunity to continue to exercise their mental skills! Chess is easy to learn, but the more skill and experience a player has, the more exciting the game.
Backgammon
In December 2004, a study was conducted by the Neurology Journal in England. The study confirmed that playing backgammon and other intellectually stimulating activities helps prevent symptoms of Alzheimer disease. Backgammon may indeed be a cognitive and intellectual enhancer, as it helps to increase cognitive skills and process a variety of sequences. Backgammon is also a left-brain activity.
Parcheesi
Parcheesi is less ‘technical’ and an easy game to learn and play. It goes by the names ‘Trouble,’ and ‘Sorry’ and involves a simple dice and counters to move around a board. Parcheesi can stimulate both rightand left-brain hemispheres, and can help with hand-eye coordination as well as basic problem solving.
Chinese Checkers
Chinese Checkers is a basic and simple game, and involves problem-solving and right brain thinking. The left brain is also involved, as the game involves some logic and sequencing. Adaptations of Chinese Checkers have evolved over time, and it provides hours of mental stimulation.
Mah Jongg
Traditional Mah Jongg is played with tiles and can be a long game with multiple players. The game can be played much more easily online or on the computer; it stimulates both left and right-brain hemispheres, as memory, logic, and identifying patterns are a core component of the game. Mah Jongg has been played for thousands of years in the Far East, and continues in many forms and variations in North America today.
When both the right and left-brain hemispheres are allowed to ‘play,’ mental and cognitive function can be greatly improved. Many seniors have problems with memory, communication, and other functions during the aging process. Playing board games, or engaging in other stimulating mental and physical activities, can help them in many ways over the long run! Be sure to incorporate avenues to socialize, interact, and simply relax and play with others; the benefits can serve them well over time!
