After decades of hard work, you’re finally free to enjoy the luxury of leisure time. While it might be tempting to spend your days lounging on the sofa or scrolling through your phone, diving into engaging activities can make a world of difference. Staying active not only boosts your cognitive function and enhances your overall well-being but also enriches your quality of life.
Studies show that older adults who stay active significantly lower their risk of heart disease, stroke, various cancers, and dementia. While some forgetfulness is a normal part of aging, dementia is not—it affects memory, thinking, and daily tasks, impacting around 6% of the population.
Prof. Kua Ee Heok, at Mind Care Clinic, launched Asia’s first dementia prevention program with the support of then-Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam. This groundbreaking program, which uses health education, mindfulness, art, music reminiscence, therapeutic horticulture, and tai chi, achieved a remarkable outcome: after five years, the prevalence of dementia among participants was just 3%, well below the expected 6% and general estimate of 10% for people aged 60 and older.
While there’s no cure for dementia at this time, there’s plenty you can do to maintain a high quality of life and cognitive function. Engaging in meaningful and fun activities not only reduces the risk of dementia but also supports those already experiencing cognitive decline.
So, trade in that sofa for some stimulating, fun activities and start exploring your options toda
Cognitive Stimulation Activities
- Puzzles and Games
- Jigsaw puzzles
- Sudoku
- Crosswords
- Reading and Writing
- Reading books, magazines, or newspapers
- Writing letters, journals
- Listening to audiobooks or news
- Learn Something New
- Tea appreciation
- Learn about using smartphones and technology
- Baking
- Mindfulness
- Creative Activities
- Drawing or painting
- Crafting or knitting
- Playing a musical instrument or singing
Check out Oldessey Life’s free resource page!
They have curated a wonderful list of activities for the elderly, that can be easily printed out or used on a device.
What is especially great, is that these resources are actually available in different languages, and use a very local context – which is essential in engaging the elderly.
Physical Activities
- Exercise
- Walking
- Swimming
- Yoga or Tai Chi
- Light aerobic exercises
- Dance
- Participating in dance classes or dance therapy
- Horticulture
- Planting flowers or vegetables
- Caring for plants
From 2016, our doctors Prof Kua Ee Heok, Dr. Emily Ho, Dr. Tan Hong Yee and Dr Rathi partnered the National Parks Board (NParks) in a series of studies on therapeutic gardens to improve the physical, mental and social health of seniors. These findings became the foundation for NParks’ project on developing therapeutic gardens across Singapore. and subsequently NParks set up 14 more of these specially-designed gardens. Find out more and participate in these gardens by visiting this page by NParks.
Social Activities
- Socializing
- Attending social gatherings or clubs
- Visiting friends and family
- Volunteering
- Group Activities
- Participating in group exercise classes
- Joining hobby clubs (e.g., book club, art club)
- Family time
- Go on a short family trip
- Learn to cook family recipes from them
- Celebrate festivals together
Sensory Activities
- Aromatherapy
- Using essential oils
- Scented candles
Do remember to use these in a responsible and safe manner, under proper supervision!
- Touch and Texture
- Handling different textured objects
- Massage therapy
Reminiscence Activities
- Memory Boxes
- Creating boxes filled with photos and memorabilia.
- Click here for our step-by-step guide on creating your very own memory box!
- Storytelling
- Sharing life stories or family history
- Watching old home movies
Talk to your healthcare professional
Spoilt for choice? This list is just the start, talk to our healthcare professionals at Mind Care Clinic today to find out how you can tailor the activities to your preferences. For a more structured and focused program, look out for our upcoming feature article on Cognitive Rehabilitation.
The world is your oyster, the most important thing is to enjoy yourself!
