Playing cards is a fun pastime for older adults, but there are also many health benefits associated with this activity. Here are some important reasons your elderly loved one should play cards on occasion.
1. Relieve Stress
A simple deck of cards could prevent your loved one from experiencing chronic stress, which has the potential to cause heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other serious conditions. When your loved one plays cards, his or her mind and body become more relaxed, reducing the amount of stress hormones produced. Instead, the hormones are regulated and your loved one experiences feelings of confidence and relaxation.
An in-home caregiver can be a fantastic card-playing partner for your loved one. Seniors who want to remain healthy as they age can benefit in a variety of ways when they receive professional home care service. Clearwater, FL, Home Care Assistance is here to help your loved one accomplish daily tasks, prevent illness, and focus on living a healthier and more fulfilling life.
2. Boost the Immune System
When seniors age, they experience a variety of changes, including diminished immune systems. However, playing cards could keep the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex stimulated, which boosts the immune system. Certain card games, such as bridge, can increase the T cells in your loved one’s body. These cells are responsible for fighting off infections.
3. Increase Memory Function
Playing cards can help your loved one fight memory loss by stimulating the mind and preventing a decrease in brain cell growth. Instead, your loved one’s brain continues to create new cells that grow stronger neural pathways and help the brain function normally. Playing cards allows your loved one to exercise and preserve his or her mind.
A professional caregiver with training and expertise in methods of cognitive stimulation can be a wonderful asset for your loved one. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of home care. You can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide an individualized care plan to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits, such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia.
4. Enhance Motor Skills
Card games are the perfect way to enhance hand-eye coordination. Your loved one will need to hold the cards for short and long periods, depending on the game he or she is playing, which increases dexterity. Shuffling the cards helps your loved one sharpen his or her reflexes as well.
5. Increase Socialization
Aging can lead to a lack of contact with other people, causing isolation, followed by depression and anxiety. However, playing cards with caregivers, other seniors, and family members is the perfect way for your loved one to remain social and have fun.
For families living in Clearwater, respite care can be a wonderful solution when their aging loved ones need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just need minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Home Care Assistance, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home. Contact one of our experienced Care Managers today at (727) 330-7862 to learn more about our reliable in-home care services.