Word Activities for the Elderly

Word activities for the elderly may help maintain cognitive function. Elderly people who maintain a cognitively active life show less risk of Alzheimer's disease, according to "Relation of cognitive activity to risk of developing Alzheimer's disease," an article by Dr. Robert S. Wilson, published in 2007 in "Neurology." Although mental-processing speed naturally decreases with age, stimulating leisure activities encourage brain growth and maintenance throughout life. Several simple word activities stimulate the brain and help elderly people remain mentally alert in later years.

Reading

• Reading books that require thinking and processing remains one of the easiest ways to effectively exercise the brain, according to The Franklin Institute. Other reading material, such as newspapers and magazines, should be equally helpful, assuming that the text is mentally stimulating.

Puzzles

• Crossword puzzles offer mentally challenging word activity that can be done by most elderly people. Other independent word games, such as word scrambles and word searches, provide interesting word activity.

Board Games

• Play Scrabble, Boggle and other word-centered board games to enjoy both the cognitive and social benefits. These games get you thinking while providing an activity for game night or other social events.

Languages

• Learn a foreign language to really stretch your mind and challenge yourself. Accomplishing such a goal obviously takes more time but proves to be very rewarding for some people. If you have trouble locating a tutor or nearby class, use a computer-based program such as Rosetta Stone.

Word Games

• Use word games and tricks each day to challenge yourself. Write down information you remember after a radio or television news report. Mnemonics are strategies such as acronyms or rhyming that help you retain and retrieve information. Use these to help you remember names, locations, lists of information or whatever you later want to recall.

Speaking

• Regularly communicating with others not only gives your brain beneficial word-related activities, but it also keeps your social life active and rich. Try enhancing your reading activities by discussing topics or current events with neighbors and friends. Keep in touch with distant relatives by calling, emailing or writing letters. Join a book club or social club focused on reading or communication. Share your knowledge of a certain subject with others who are interested in learning more about your area of expertise.

Writing

• Writing as a daily part of life may dwindle as we get older. Incorporate writing into your daily activities to keep your brain alert. Write lists or create stories or poems. Join online discussion boards on cognitively challenging areas of interest and actively participate . Better yet, compose a written autobiography for your children and grandchildren that will be cherished forever.