Page 128 - SEFL Senior Living Guide

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As it turns out bingo is more than just a fun Significant improvement in hand-eye
activity. Researchers have found that playing coordination occurs with many seniors due
bingo has multiple health benefits for the to the speed required and the repetitive
elderly. It takes concentration - which nature of the game. Even seniors with
improves listening and short term memory dementia issues have shown improvement.
skills and it promotes socialization - which Using larger cards with larger and bolder
is essential for seniors to maintain a happy type and a high contrast in color improve
and healthy lifestyle. If your elderly loved thinking skills and memory among patients
one likes to play bingo, it can be an with dementia issues including Alzheimer’s
excellent way to promote mental, emotional, and Parkinson’s disease.
and physical health. This may be a good Social Perks of Bingo
way to get your loved one motivated and
interested in other activities. Lack of socialization will have a
negative impact on one’s health and
Bingo is the American version of a game wellbeing, especially for older persons.
that originated as an Italian Lottery dating Being social can reduce stress, depression
back as far as the mid-1500s. When the and anxiety while increasing one’s physical
game reached North America in 1929 it was health. Seniors who participate in regular
known as “beano” but later renamed bingo social activities tend to live longer and have
after a caller yelled out “BINGO” instead of healthier lives. Becoming part of a regular
beano. Bingo is a mainstay at local senior bingo group provides the opportunity to stay
and community centers all across the US. acquainted with friends and even make
Cognitive Benefits of Bingo some new ones. Connecting with others
With the concentration and listening skill gives a senior something to look forward to
it takes to play bingo, one’s cognitive abili- as well as a purpose. Statics show that se-
ties are sharpened. Since the game requires niors who maintain social interaction have a
alertness to hear the numbers and remem- much slower decline mentally and physically
ber that information to transfer it to the than those who do not.
cards they are playing, it improves memory. Condensed from https://sageminder.com