Whether you work in a nursing home or are simply looking for activities to do with your aging parents or grandparents, there are many activities to help senior citizens keep their minds sharp. Neurologist Joe Verghese said in a 2003 study that mental stimulation actually keeps dementia at bay.
Start a Book Club
Start a monthly book club. Have each person in the group suggest books to read and vote on the books that work best for your group. Gather each month to discuss a book. Many books include questions to stimulate discussion at book clubs.
Puzzles
Assemble puzzles. This activity not only helps keep the mind active, but also engages a person's fine motor skills. For those struggling with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, try doing puzzles with a fewer pieces.
Newsletter
If you work at a nursing home, start a newsletter. Have residents contribute articles on different subjects. Suggest a theme for each month. Ask for short stories, personal accounts and poems. Include information such as planned events at the facility and residents' birthdays.
Trips
Take trips as often as possible. Find listings in a local newspaper for events such as fairs, movies, concerts and plays. If you work at a nursing home, call concert halls or movie theaters in advance to ask about senior or group rates. Many nursing home facilities have cars or buses for these types of trips. Hold discussions after attending movies, concerts or plays. Discuss what the residents liked or did not like about the event. If the play or movie took place in a time period they lived through, invite them to share their memories.
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