Stay Mentally Active With These Hobbies For Seniors

Added on April 13, 2018 by Lucy_Wyndham

The top 15 health concerns for seniors include cancer, arthritis and heart disease, showing the importance of a good diet and exercise as you age. However, included in this list are cognitive impairments including Alzheimer's and depression. To avoid the problems of memory-related conditions as well as mental conditions related to social isolation, seniors should find mentally stimulating hobbies. Engaging in the following activities will keep you sharp well into old age, in order to slow the natural deterioration of cognitive faculties.

Photography

For those living in a care home, photography provides a perfect hobby. You don't need to go anywhere as long as you have your own camera. These days, this doesn't have to be anything beyond a decent smartphone, which is now the case for 40% of seniors. Needless to say, this is the kind of hobby or craft that you can fall in love with in a matter of days.

There are two aspects to photography that make it so great for mental stimulation. Firstly, you will have to learn the technicalities of adjusting the camera settings. Secondly, it will require a level of creativity. Photography therefore trains both the rational left-brain traits, while strengthening the creative right-hand side of the brain.

Musical Instruments

As you enter your golden years, it's the perfect opportunity to do all the things you wished you'd done when you were younger. One thing you can do without leaving the house is learning a new instrument. This is often daunting for beginners, but it shouldn't be. Just learning a few simple guitar chords will have you playing some great classics in no time.

Learning an instrument requires a high level of coordination, so it stimulates parts of the brain that may go unused in everyday life. The nerve connections between the visual-spatial, hearing and movement parts of the brain will be strengthened. This helps keep the brain active well into old age, without requiring anything too physically demanding.

Learn a New Language

Another hobby you can take up from the comfort of your own home is learning a new language. You can either have a tutor come to you or use the increasing range of online learning tools. It can be extremely difficult, but learning even a little will improve your communication skills and provide a sense of achievement.

Learning a new hobby as a senior is extremely important. It will keep your brain functioning at its highest, while giving your life more meaning. The above options are a good start, but do your own research to find the most fun activity for you.

Image via Unsplash

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