Who hasn’t played Scrabble? Well, this game is more useful than having fun, it’s perfect for keeping elderly people’s brain active. Among the many board games, Scrabble stands out because it’s a classic that combines memory, strategy, vocabulary, and the opportunity to socialize. This is why more experts recommend Scrabble as the perfect game for people over 65 years old who want to care for their cognitive health.
Of course, you sure have heard about certain foods that are great for your brain, but exercising the mind is really important. So, let’s find out more about Scrabble benefits.
What’s Scrabble?
This is a board game in which players have to form words on a board using pieces with letters. Each player starts with seven pieces and, in each player’s turn, they have to create a word that connects with the ones already on the board.
Also, it’s important to get points. How do you do this? Each letter has a value and there are also some special squares to multiply this punctuation. The game ends when there are no more pieces or it’s not possible to create more words, and the winner is the player with more points.
It seems simple, but if you play Scrabble you are actually training your brain through exercises of memory, logic, calculation, and focus.
Benefits of playing Scrabble for elderly people
Maybe you’ve heard Scrabble is a very popular game among elderly people, and this is not by chance because it has benefits that go beyond having fun:
- Memory and vocabulary exercises: to play Scrabble you need to remember words, letters and combinations, which reinforces memory.
- Language stimulation: finding new words improves your fluency when speaking and expands your vocabulary.
- Develops logic and strategy: planning where you are going to place the word and calculate the punctuation needs concentration and strategic thinking.
- Prevention of cognitive deterioration: keeping your brain active reduces risks of issues like memory loss or Alzheimer.
- Social interaction: opposite to other games, Scrabble encourages speaking, laughing, and connecting with the other players, which is crucial for emotional wellbeing. For example, think about solitaire, a game that you can’t speak to anyone and the fun it’s not the same.
More benefits
Did you think that was all? Not at all. Scrabble has more to offer because it’s so flexible, you can play it in different ways:
- Couples or groups.
- Relaxed or competitive, among your family or local tournaments.
Another positive point is that it is very accessible, since it doesn’t require any technological equipment nor complex preparation. You just need the board and the pieces, and you are ready to play. This is why Scrabble is so accessible for people of every age.
Other games recommended for the brain
Scrabble is one of the best games for the brain, but it’s true it’s not the only one that’s useful to keep your brain active. So, let’s see which are these games:
- Rummikub: reinforces logic and recognition of patterns.
- Chess: perfect for those who enjoy strategy and planning.
- Bingo: it’s simple, fun, and great for paying attention.
- Trivia games: they help training memory and learn new data.
- Domino: it’s a classic that improves mental speed and logic with numbers.
Remember you are playing so having fun is key, choose games that are fun and challenging for you. Don’t even think about being stressed or frustrated because you lose the game, it’s all about enjoying the moment and working on your brain.
So, if you have the chance, grab Scrabble and play it with your grandparents or anyone who is older. You will have a good time and help them keep a healthy brain.