8 memory games for seniors

Several enjoyable activities to stimulate the memory of those who have reached old age.

Old age is one of the stages of development that presents more specific needs, since when people reach senescence they begin to wear out physically and physically.The elderly is one of the stages of development that presents more specific needs, since when people reach senescence they begin to suffer physical and neurological wear and tear.

In this article we will see a list of memory games for seniorsthat can be useful in the care of these people, offering amusing activities to spend a pleasant time with them while we stimulate their mind.

The most entertaining memory games for older adults.

Family members or caregivers should try to give the best possible quality of life to seniors. A good way to do this is to keep them socially active and stimulate their memory. in order to delay cognitive decline.

In this way, neuron tissues are stimulated so that nerve cells create more connections between them, so that memories are accessible from more than one route of thought. In short, memory games for older adults promote the fact that neurons communicate with each other in different ways than the environment and the usual day-to-day life of the person promotes them to communicate.

This is done by taking advantage of what is known as takes advantage of what is known as neuronal plasticityThe brain's capacity to adapt to new situations by modifying its functioning and, at a microscopic level, also its morphology (in terms of the neuronal networks of which it is composed). This is a property that we maintain throughout life.

Thus, engaging in activities that require the use of memory is a challenge that brings parts of the brain that were previously relatively isolated into contact with each other.

Let's look at some ways to achieve this.

1. Board games

Board games provide the adult in the aging phase with a source of meaningful social contact. This is important, as people in this stage of life generally tend to isolate themselves. All board games allow the older adult to feel useful and taken into account by others, in addition to stimulating his or her memory.

In this case, the level of cognitive stimulation will depend on which board game is implemented. Some good alternatives are always games such as dominoes and cards.

The game of chess is the best alternative, taking into account that people who practice this sport have a higher level of memory and concentration even in old age.

2. The "I see, I see" game

It consists of selecting an object by sight and telling the other participants what letter the object we have chosen begins with, so that they have to find out what it is by looking around them, taking into account the objects nearby and the clue we have given them.

This is one of the memory games for older people who are more advanced in their old age.It serves to stimulate the memory related to language.

3. Memory game with cards

The cards that make up the game are placed face down, with each card having an identical pair.

The first player to play will flip two and see if they match, and if so will set them aside for himself. Then the second player will repeat this procedure, and at the end of the game will repeat this procedure, and at the end of the game whoever has the most pairs wins.. It is one of the most versatile memory games, and can be adapted for people of any age.

4. The word formation game

It is one of the best alternatives to exercise the memory in the elderly, especially in relation to the ability to speak and write.

It consists of placing a letter inside a board with several squares.The older adult must then form as many words as possible without repeating them.

5. The "Simon Says" game

This game adapted to the needs of the elderly is also a great help to keep their mental processes active. It can be played with three or more people.

One of the participants will be called "Simon" and the others must do what he/she orders, as long as he/she uses the phrase "Simon says" before giving the order.

For example, when saying "Simon says raise your left arm" everyone must do it. But, if he only says "raise your left arm" then no one should do anything, or you will be disqualified.

6. Finding the differences

This game consists of placing two images that at first glance look the same, but differ in some details. The participant must carefully observe the two figures and tell what the differences are. and tell what are the specific differences in each one of them..

The size of the figures should be taken into account before starting the game, and that older people often have visual difficulties.

7. Completing sentences

This is one of the most entertaining games to play with the elderly, taking into consideration that many of them usually know a large number of sayings.

The idea of the game is to place unfinished phrases in a container and take them out at random. Once they have been read aloud the other participant must complete the sentenceThen it will be the next participant's turn, and the winner will be the one who completes the most sentences in the shortest time.

8. Putting puzzles together

It is par excellence one of the best and most famous games for memory and concentration..

When we use it to stimulate the memory of older adults we must take into consideration several factors, such as the number of pieces of the puzzle (they should not be too many), that sustained attention in old age is not so long, and that the size of the pieces should be large so that the person can distinguish them clearly.

Por último, el motivo del rompecabezas no debe ser algo muy abstracto, para evitar que el jugador pueda llegar a confundirse y no quiera seguir jugando.

Referencias bibliográficas:

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• Feldman, Robert S. (2005). Psicología con aplicaciones en países de habla hispana. México: McGraw Hill.
• Moscovitch, M. (2007) Memory: Why the engram is elusive? In: Roediger, H. L., Dudai, Y. and Fitzpatrick S. M., eds. Science of Memory: Concepts. New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 17 - 21.
• Keller, T.A.; Just, M.A. (2016). Structural and functional neuroplasticity in human learning of spatial routes. NeuroImage.
• Schwabe L.; Wolf O.T. (2010). Learning under stress impairs memory formation. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. 93 (2): 183–188.
• Woods, B, Aguirre, E., Spector, A.E., Orrell, M. (2012). Cognitive stimulation to improve cognitive functioning in people with dementia. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2 (2): CD005562
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