How to Help Old People With Games

Anyone with a family member or friend with dementia or Alzheimer's disease knows how troubling it can be to see a loved one experience degradation of the mind. According to the Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation, keeping a mind sharp has been proven to thwart the onset of these horrible diseases. In addition to learning a new language or playing a new instrument, another method to stave off deterioration of the mind is through games, according to the medical journal Psychology and Aging. Helping the elderly with games is easy, and the benefits can be life-altering.

Things You'll Need

• Nintendo DS
• "Brain Age" game
• Nintendo Wii
• Playing cards
• BINGO
• Crossword puzzles
• Big-piece puzzles
• Trivia games
• Cryptograms

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Instructions

Helping the Elderly with Games

• 1

  Choose a type of game to teach your elder. There's a game for every interest, from puzzle or word games to action or character-controlled games. Keep their skill set and cognitive functioning in mind. Playing video games can help keep an aging mind sharp with many games designed to do just that. Nintendo has released different versions of "Brain Age" for the Nintendo DS, designed to improve the mental function of people older than 45. The Nintendo Wii console also offers many games directed toward an older generation.

• 2

  Give direction. It's important make sure those who are playing know how to play correctly. Technology can be overwhelming for people who aren't used to it, so be patient and teach.

• 3

  Go fish! There are a variety of traditional games available to stimulate the mind and promote good mental health. BINGO is a favorite, but how about trying large-piece puzzles and various large-print games and word puzzles? Crosswords, playing cards, cryptograms, memory and trivia-based games also are fun pastimes.

• 4

  Take time to play. Whether or not your aging family member or friend lives with you, create regular time to play with him. Make the upkeep of his mental health as much your responsibility as his, and he will have the best possible chance to maintain a beautiful mind.