Senior Care in Hendersonville: Improving Memory - How to Help Your Senior

By Jim Smeaton

Memory loss is a natural part of the aging process, but this doesn't mean that it is easy to cope with. Furthermore, there are actually a few things that seniors can do to stave off memory loss and strengthen their ability to make and recall new memories. The home care professionals at AlwaysBest Care of Western NC, serving Asheville, Hendersonville, and surrounding western North Carolina communities, encourage you to assist your elderly loved one in the following ways:[1]

•  Challenging Mental Capabilities: Basically, the brain needs to be used in order to keep cognitive function (including memory) as strong as possible. By engaging in new, fun mental activities, your senior can strengthen their memory while learning new ideas and having a great time. Some wonderful tasks your loved one may be interested in include learning a new language, playing an instrument, or putting together a challenging puzzle.
• Getting Enough Sleep and Exercise: The brain is a physical part of the body, and as such it is important that your elderly loved one takes care of their body in order to best maintain the strength of their brain. Sleep is important, as it provides a time for the body to recover and rejuvenate after a long day. Additionally, exercise creates a healthy body that allows the brain to work optimally.
• Eating a Well-Rounded Diet: "Brain food" is a term that applies to the items that support healthy mental activity. Omega 3s, green tea, fruits, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates all encourage brain health and stimulate mental function (which includes memory). In addition to adding these substances to your loved one's diet, limit the consumption of saturated fats and calories (within a healthy range).
• Encouraging Social Activity: Interaction with other people is key in keeping the mind sharp. Social activities allow your loved one to interact with individuals who share their interests while creating meaningful relationships. Laughter, which is beneficial to brain health because it stimulates so many areas of this organ at once, is often a side effect of a fun social gathering.

The home care professionals at Always Best Care of WesternNC  also recommend limiting stress levels, as long-term stress can cause damage to the cells in the brain as well as the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory. These elder care providers encourage you to reach out to professionals if you need assistance creating a memory improvement plan for your loved one.

Finding the right care is not an easy decision to make, so we have put together an E-booklet filled with tips, advice, and general information so that you are well informed.

If you are interested in learning more about Alzheimer's, dementia and elder care, contact Jim Smeaton  and the professionals at Always Best Care of Western North Carolina at (828) 989-7263 or visit their website.

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[1] http://www.helpguide.org/life/improving_memory.htm