What is Brain Training?
Experiencing poor learning, reading, memory, and attention are in correlation with weak cognitive skills. Therefore, brain training is a way of strengthening these skills using fun mental workout sessions. Targeting and strengthening neural connections in the brain. This helps the processing of incoming information to be more efficient.
Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia most commonly affect these cognitive skills. This involves a deterioration in memory, thinking and the ability to perform everyday activities. Furthermore, much research has found that brain training can reduce risk of dementia in healthy older adults by up to 29%. For instance, the design of particular training “speed-of-processing” improves the speed and accuracy of a person’s visual attention. More importantly, this should be regarded as ‘protective’ against cognitive decline, not as something that will stop dementia.
Cognitive Stimulation in Care Homes
Cognitive stimulation is the name given to techniques and strategies, seeking to optimise the effectiveness of brain functioning. For instance, here are some examples of techniques that we incorporate in our nursing home at varying times with the people we support.
- Switching hands: If you are right-handed, try using your left hand to do things like brushing your teeth and eating. Using your non-dominant hand results in increased brain activity.
- Read books aloud: Take turns reading and listening to a book with people. This engages the brain and imagination in a different way. This is because you are activating up to three brain regions, when the same word was read, spoken, or heard.
- Learning something new: Once you master a skill, the mental benefit of learning stops. So, going beyond your comfort zone by learning something else or increasing your level of difficulty re-engages your brain again.
- Diverse social connections: Any time you connect with others, you expose yourself to new ideas and other ways of thinking. Therefore, opening yourself up to new perspectives and ideas which will stimulate your mental growth.
- Physical exercise: This provides brain benefits via a variety of mechanisms. Exercise turns on the gene that stimulates new brain cell formation. In addition, it improves circulation to the brain to deliver more oxygen and nutrients, and remove metabolic waste more efficiently.
Here are some excellent resources for brain training aimed at those with dementia:
Contacting Stanfield Nursing Home
If you are interested in learning more about our daily activities and brain training at our CQC-rated ‘Outstanding’ care home, then head to our website today or visit our previous blog update. Alternatively, you can call 01905 420 459 to speak to a member of our helpful and friendly team.