Benefits of Getting Your Parent Gaming on Video Games Day
Elder Care in Arlington VA
September 12 is Video Game Day. While you might immediately think of preteen and teenage boys when you think of video games, the truth is that times have changed and video games are no 
longer just for this limited audience. Boys and girls of all ages are enjoying a tremendous variety of video games, and that includes older adults. As a family caregiver, you can help to enhance your parent’s life and help them to live a happier, healthier, and more productive quality of life by finding creative ways to engage them and stimulate their mind. One exceptional way is to encourage them to enjoy video games as part of their regular care routine.
Some of the benefits of getting your elderly loved one gaming on video games day include:
- Better multitasking. Cognitive multitasking can become challenging for older adults. This means that they may not be able to think about or act on multiple things at the same time, making it harder for them to manage even mildly complex processes. Playing video games, however, can help keep up these multitasking skills so they are better able to handle these situations.
- Prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Studies have shown that playing video games regularly can actually help to ward off Alzheimer’s disease or slow the progression of the symptoms if they have already developed. Video games stimulate the mind in a variety of ways, triggering memories and encouraging cognitive processes as well as critical thinking that help to keep their mind sharper and more responsive.
- Improved memory. Research involving older adults playing a video game for 12 hours over the course of one month showed that these seniors experienced marked improvement in their short term memory recall ability. Not only did playing the games seem to help these seniors make memories and recall them more quickly and accurately, but this benefit continued on for six months after the study came to an end. This suggests that playing video games is not just good for giving a temporary boost in cognitive functioning, but that it actually improves the way that the brain works and can help your parent to maintain their functioning over the course of their later years.
If you are looking for ways to encourage your elderly loved one to be more active and engaged, starting home care for them may be the ideal solution. An in-home senior care services provider can be with your parent on a schedule that is appropriate for your aging loved one’s needs and your care efforts so that they can get the care, support, encouragement, and assistance that they need while also staying as independent and autonomous as possible. When it comes to keeping their brain sharp and their mental and emotional health high, this care provider can be with your elderly parent to encourage them to engage in activities that stimulate their mind and support faster, more efficient, and better cognitive processing, memory skills, and reasoning.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring elder care in Arlington County, VA, please contact the caring staff at LivinRite Home Care. Call Us Today at (703) 369-6677. Serving Northern Virginia, The Valley, and Surrounding Communities
Source: http://www.medicaldaily.com/preventing-alzheimers-disease-video-games-may-help-seniors-retain-cognitive-370690
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