Bingo has been a popular activity among older adults for years. In addition to being a fun way to spend an evening, playing bingo can provide significant emotional and physical health benefits for seniors. However, they may require assistance with several tasks at home before getting out of the house to play bingo. The following are a few reasons you should encourage your senior loved one to take up bingo as a hobby.
1. Enhances Cognitive Skills & Memory
Playing bingo requires alertness and the ability to recall specific information. Seniors who play bingo on a regular basis tend to perform better on tests measuring information, retention, short-term memory, and mental speed, which can help them maintain their functional independence. According to a study by Southampton University’s Centre for Visual Cognition, older adults who played bingo regularly had better concentration and short-term memory skills than those who played bridge, chess, or backgammon.
Seniors can face a variety of challenges as they age, many of which can be mitigated with the help of professional in-home caregivers who provide high-quality Miami home care service. Trust Assisting Hands Home Care to help your elderly loved one age in place safely and comfortably.
2. Increases Hand-Eye Coordination
Slowed reflexes and decreased coordination are a natural part of aging. Bingo can help older adults maintain their hand-eye coordination because they’re required to quickly identify the numbers called and mark their cards appropriately. Better hand-eye coordination can make it easier for seniors to perform everyday tasks.
3. Boosts Overall Health
Bingo is a highly interactive game that typically involves a great deal of laughter and excitement. Laughter can trigger changes in the body that naturally boost the immune system, which can make it easier to ward off illnesses. The simple act of getting out of the house to attend bingo games helps seniors build and maintain their mobility.
4. Promotes Faster Healing & Recuperation
Playing bingo and other games may help your loved one recover from a serious illness or surgery. Seniors who play games during their recovery typically have shorter hospital stays. The laughter and positive emotions associated with playing games can also reduce the perception of pain.
Living with serious health conditions can make it challenging for seniors to age in place. However, they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of professional live-in care. Miami seniors can benefit from assistance with meal prep, bathing, transportation to the doctor’s office, medication reminders, and much more.
5. Provides Opportunities for Socialization
Bingo provides an opportunity for seniors to connect with others who have similar interests and allows them to establish new friendships, which promotes emotional wellbeing. Social interaction also has a significant impact on both cognitive and physical functioning. A long-term study of nearly 1,000 older adults conducted by Rush University Medical Center in Chicago found that adults who remained socially active had lower rates of functional disability than those who were isolated.
6. Elevates Mood
Seniors living with chronic health conditions, the loss of a spouse, limited mobility, or other issues that lead to isolation often experience high levels of stress and depression. The fast-paced action associated with bingo boosts emotional wellbeing by diverting the mind from issues that cause stress. The laughter also causes physical changes in the body that naturally elevate mood and promote relaxation.
If you have a senior loved one who needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of home care Miami families can trust. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia. If your loved one needs help with the challenges of aging, call one of our compassionate Care Managers today.
