4 Great Ways to Support Senior Memory

Here are some effective steps seniors and their families can take to support senior memory.

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Age-related memory loss is common. Studies have shown that about 40% of all adults age 65 or older have some form of memory impairment due to age.

As a home care service in Asheville, NC, we work with many seniors and their families to promote memory support in the home. Let’s look at some things you can do to build memory care into your senior’s daily routine.

Nurture the Brain with the Right Foods and Supplements

Food plays a vital role in all areas of health, including memory support. When a diet consists of foods that are high in processed ingredients or saturated and trans fat, arteries can become clogged and leave a person at risk of a stroke. Strokes can lead to memory loss, among other side effects.

Some of the best foods to boost brain health (and, by extension, memory support) include fatty fishes like salmon, seeds and nuts, broccoli, dark chocolate, and antioxidant-rich foods like blueberries. If these foods don’t appeal to your senior loved one’s eating habits, then adding supplements to their diet is the next best option. Talk with their doctor before adding any type of supplement to ensure it won’t interfere with their medications.

Encourage Daily Exercise

Exercise promotes blood flow to the brain. It requires a level of mental alertness, which can help keep your senior’s thinking sharp. Plus, exercise can boost their mood and encourage them to be active.

As a bonus, both diet and exercise can have a positive impact on sleep quality. Sleep is essential to memory care, as it helps the brain to solidify memories. Seniors can sleep better at night when they eat healthy foods, avoid stimulants, and get plenty of exercise.

Socialize

supporting senior memory home care

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Seniors that lead good social lives typically experience better mental health and memory support. It keeps them engaged, which requires more mental function than doing activities by themselves. They’re less likely to experience cognitive decline when they consistently interact with others. Even just ten minutes of social activity each day can deliver benefits to a senior’s memory.

Help Them Find Their Purpose

When we’re young and working, we tend to think our purpose lies in our careers, our children, or the myriad of responsibilities we have on a daily basis. But as we age and those responsibilities dwindle, it’s easy to lose our sense of purpose. For seniors, not feeling as though they have a purpose can lead to depression, which can result in a rapid acceleration of memory loss.

Helping your senior loved one find a purpose in their daily living activities may help to stave off memory loss. For example, if they are willing and able to take care of a pet, then a furry companion might help them feel needed. Or, you can help them volunteer at an organization and give back to others.

Each of these ideas can be supported by a home care professional, too. For more information on our services in Asheville, NC, reach out to our team today.

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