Incorporating Play into Home Care Services

Human beings, no matter what age, learn best through play. Play helps stimulate the brain and allows us to practice our cognitive skills as well as express our creativity. Play also relaxes us, improves our mood, and often times, helps us learn a new skill or improve on an old one. And because play is typically performed as a group activity or with another individual, it also helps us develop our social skills.

As this month is World Alzheimer’s Month, Best Home Care wanted to share some ideas to help inspire home caregivers on how they can easily incorporate play into their daily activities to help improve their client's memory and mood:

1. Crossword Puzzles: A classic game that not only stimulates the mind, but it also helps to improve memory. Crosswords are also a therapeutic activity that allows clients and caregivers to destress and enjoy their time spent together.

2. Name that Tune: Melodies are great for activating the memory. You can begin this game by playing a simple tune on your phone or piano, including nursery rhymes, Christmas tunes, and popular jazz and rock tunes. Once you've played a snippet of the tune, ask your client to name the song.
3. Name that Film: Similar to the last game, try showing clips of popular movies or  TV shows that the client may recognize.
4. Sudoku: Like crossword puzzles, or even word searches, Sudoku puzzles are great for training the brain and keeping memories fresh, especially if played daily.
5. Memory cards: Remember this game when you were a kid? All you need to do to play is place a set of memory cards face down on the table and then flip each card over, one at a time, to find its match. This game’s difficulty level can be altered depending on the client's preferences and needs. Card decks can be purchased at any store with a toy section, or you can print your own cards online, using pictures of family and friends.

For more play ideas to incorporate into your homecare services, please contact Best Home Care at 651-330-2550. Also, visit our website to learn more about our homecare services in MN, and how we can help pair quality home caregivers to those in need of support.