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Memory loss is a natural process of life. It’s normal to have issues with long-term and episodic memory as people age.
While it may be common, memory decline can have consequences for one’s health. Memory loss increases the risk of slips and falls. It can also prevent seniors from taking necessary safety precautions in the home.
One of the best ways to preserve and improve memory is to embrace the power of play!
Many adults leave games in the past. However, they’re missing out on the cognitive benefits of games. Just like games are necessary for child development, games are also essential for cognitive health in seniors.
Read on to explore the benefits of memory games for seniors.
Best Online Games for Seniors
Tech-savvy seniors have a wealth of stimulating games at their disposal. Many of these games are free and can be played on a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.
This first game is familiar to most age groups. Candy Crush is a popular puzzle game that challenges players to “crush” as many candies as possible.
The goal is to group as many candies as possible with the same color and “crush” them for points. The game speeds up with each level, which challenges seniors to think quick on their feet!
Another popular online game for seniors is Bejeweled. This game has been around for years. It’s an excellent precursor to candy crush.
Like Candy Crush, players must match up jewels of the same color to clear the board. As players clear a row, more gems are added to the mix. Seniors must think fast to crush the jewels as quickly as possible.
Word Games
Word games are an excellent way to jog episodic and long-term memory while strengthening procedural and semantic memory.
Episodic memory refers to one’s autobiographical memory, like birthdays and childhood milestones. Long-term memory is information that’s stored in the brain for long periods.
Semantic memory refers to remembering and understanding essential concepts, like words and numbers. Procedural memory is the understanding of how those concepts work.
Word games help seniors remember words, what they mean, and their significance. These games can be enjoyed as a solo activity or with senior social groups.
Popular word games include Scrabble, crossword puzzles, word searching, reading comprehension, Scattergories, Boggle, and Hangman.
The Benefits of Strategy Games
Seniors with a competitive streak can also enjoy the cognitive benefits of strategy games.
The following strategy games for seniors exercise all memory types, from semantic to episodic.
Plants vs. Zombies
Risk
Battleship
Chess
Checkers
Ticket to Ride
Cranium
Thimbleweed Park
