It is a fact that as long as a person gets older, his cognitive skills get a bit slower mostly because the neurons take a longer time in transmitting information. Consider this degeneration and supplement this with the common attributes of a typical senior:
- refusal to learn because of lack of ability in reading small fonts and complicated terminologies
- decline in playing games because of lack of patience in learning about complicated rules
- rejection of participating in games because of lack of resources in engaging themselves in outdoor settings
Because of these common reasons, seniors tend to have an increased risk of being unfortunate enough to have sluggish cognitive skills. This, therefore, makes them more likely to acquire degenerative cognitive problems such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Some of the cognitive skills that the elderly need to consistently stimulate are the following:
- Reasoning
- Awareness
- Knowledge
In addition, the cognition has the following function that the elderly need in order for them to obtain the optimum quality of life possible:
- To be able to analyze the relationship between two distinct ideologies
- To be able to internally determine the cause-and-effect pattern between different factors
- To be able to memorize and understand key concepts needed during certain events
In the past, these cognitive skills have not been developed due to the abovementioned constraints. Today, however, the times have changed and technology has paved the way for cognition to undergo the innovation that it truly needs.
Well, then, just how exactly can technology be able to improve cognition? This can be done through the advanced devices and developed gadgets that technology was able to produce:
- Tablet readers have optimized screens and ease of access functions.
Devices like the Samsung Galaxy Tab, Apple iPad and Amazon Nexus all have one thing in common: they all possess wide screens and portable means of transporting themselves. The possession of a wide screen means that there is a better ease of access for these devices.
Fonts of letters can be made bigger. Also, sometimes, there are installed functions which promote voice-overs. Due to these, a senior can now have the ability to learn by reading bigger fonts and listening to accurate book voice-overs.
- Smart phone games have intuitive and fun games that the seniors can play.
The App Store of every smart phone plays home to literally hundreds of games. And while some of these games are your usual clichéd ones, some of these games promote fun and stimulate a senior’s brain at the same time.
The best thing about these games is that they are not just educational – they are enjoyable, too! Also, these games contain easy-to-understand instructions that seniors can simply comprehend.
Some of these games are word search, crossword and Sudoku.
- The games available for playing also facilitate friendly competition and interactive socialization at the comfort of a senior’s home.
While it is fine that some of the games found in smart phones can be played by an individual, some games also promote socialization as well. Games like chess, scrabble and bingo can be played with the senior’s peers at the convenience of their homes. As long as they have a device and a reliable internet connection, these seniors are good to go!
Nowadays, technology is not only helpful in rehabilitative treatment as those found in surgeries. It is important in advocating for a life focused on health and wellness, as well. Because of it, dementia and Alzheimer’s can be prevented. And seniors can get more and more psychologically stimulated every day.