Columbia Aged Care

Are you worried about losing your memory? Do you feel that your brain isn’t as sharp as it used to be? Then maybe it’s time that you improved your mental fitness.

Your brain is like any other muscle, which means it needs a regular workout to stay fit.

Better Health Channel has provided some great tips on how to give your brain a mental workout and improve your mental fitness.

• Exercise for 30 minutes a day: Physical exercise increases the flow of oxygen to your brain to enhance your mental functioning and improve your memory
• Reading regularly: Reading helps to stimulate your brain and allows you to learn new things. You brain then receives a workout by expanding your knowledge base.
• Increase your vitamin B intake: Vitamin B is important for maintaining a healthy brain. This means you should eat wholegrain cereals and dairy foods.
• Exercise your intelligence: Take part in mentally challenging activities such as learning a new language, completing a cryptic crossword or a jigsaw puzzle.
• Maintain your health: The health of your body can have an effect on the health of your brain. You should visit your doctor for regular check-ups to identify potential health issues early.
• Socialise: Other people can help you exercise your mental fitness with thought-provoking conversations or by playing a board game or watching TV game shows together.

Your brain is a very important muscle that co-ordinates all of your body’s functions. It is essential to exercise your mental fitness regularly to ensure that your body can function effectively and that your memory, speech, perception and comprehension remain sharp.

Read the full article here.

It can be a challenge to find interesting and suitable books for your loved one. Many novels today seem to be aimed at the younger generation or special interest groups that are inappropriate or not of any interest to elderly people.

It may also be that your loved one is starting to experience eyesight problems that cause the small text of most novels to blur.

eHow have provided some tips you can use to help bring back the joy of reading to your loved one.

Do some research:
Your loved one may feel reluctant to get back into reading because they haven’t be able to read for a while. On your next visit, casually bring along a magazine or book that has a larger print size and leave it for them to have a flick through. This added benefit of larger print may be all they need to get back into reading.

If they do begin to enjoy reading again there are places where you can order books with a larger font. Another idea is to buy a digital reader – such as a Kindle – that allows you to download books and change the font size on the screen.

Talk to your loved one:
Your loved one may have many interests that you are already aware of but people change. Sit down and have a quick chat about what they like, what are their hobbies or interests and even what programs they like to watch on TV. You never know when one of those interests may translate into a fiction or non-fiction book.

Visit your local library:
Look to your local library for sources of large print books and also for inspiration and ideas of topics that may be of interest to your loved one. Libraries hold many books on all different topics and the staff usually know what books are popular with which age group.

It may be that all your loved one needs is a gentle push in the right direction to get them interested in reading again. Not only is it an enjoyable way to pass time but it also keeps the mind active and healthy.

Read the full article here.