There’s good news: Dementia may be preventable. According to a recent study, nearly 45% of dementia cases can be prevented or delayed by addressing key risk factors.
Some of those risk factors are challenging to address, but many of them—such as staying inside, solitude and lack of mental engagement or physical exercise—can be mitigated through healthy habits. Combined with help managing chronic conditions like diabetes or blood pressure, it’s an incredibly effective way to prevent or delay cognitive decline.
There’s even more good news: There are a huge number of ways for seniors to stay active and engaged in the Greater Sacramento area. With cultural education programs, healthy cooking classes and community support, there’s a wealth of resources for seniors in South Placer County.
How to Improve Brain Health in Greater Sacramento
With historical museums, social support groups and ways to eat healthy, the Greater Sacramento area is full of ways for seniors to stay engaged, eat right and stave off cognitive decline. Here are a few of our favorite ways to help seniors in South Placer County improve their brain health:
- Learn Something New
Learning is more than just a great way to satisfy your curiosity. Every new skill or piece of information you learn increases your neuroplasticity, your brain’s ability to recover from injuries, adjust to new situations and take in new ideas.
Is your loved one a history buff? Try taking them for a trip to the Maidu Museum & Historic Site. This museum commemorates the rich culture and history of the Maidu, the Native American tribe that first inhabited the Roseville area.
Inside the Museum, you’ll find exhibits on all sorts of Maidu traditional arts and practices such as basket weaving and acorn processing. Outside, a 3-mile loop trail winds through a grassy field full of ancient Maidu petroglyphs and bedrock mortars. They even host social and educational programs like campfire storytelling and jewelry workshops that you can do with your family.
- Eat a Balanced Diet
While there’s not enough research yet to say exactly how diet affects dementia, it is known that a healthy weight and blood pressure are associated with reduced risk of cognitive decline.
The Sacramento Natural Foods Co-Op is your one-stop shop for healthier living. This employee-owned market stocks 100% organic, locally-sourced produce, as well as healthy bulk foods, drinks and wellness products.
The Co-Op even hosts regular cooking and baking classes in their kitchen. For a fun day out with your loved one, schedule one with them and learn to prepare a healthy, satisfying meal together.
- Find Community Support
Dementia can be isolating—not just for the people experiencing it, but for their families as well. Getting support from others in the community gives family caregivers like you a network of trusted friends you can lean on.
That’s why Del Oro Caregiver Resource Center in Citrus Heights hosts a variety of support groups for both seniors and their families. With a number of groups available at multiple convenient times and locations (including online), you’ll always have a shoulder to lean on.
They also host memory cafes: gatherings where seniors with dementia can socialize, dine and connect. Socializing is a mental workout that slows the progress of cognitive decline, and these cafes are the perfect opportunity for them to have fun, make friends and stay engaged.
Find a Brain Health Partner For Seniors in South Placer County
There are many options for seniors in South Placer County to boost their brain health and prevent or delay dementia. And with the support of an expert, you can make the most of them.
A professional caregiver can help manage risk factors like diabetes and high blood pressure by transporting your loved one to activities and doctor’s appointments, or even by helping them prepare healthy meals. In addition, FirstLight Home Care of South Placer County is proud to offer compassionate dementia care that incorporates their personal preferences into a comforting routine built just for them.
Navigating dementia can be complicated and stressful, but you don’t have to do it on your own. Whether you’re exploring your care options or just want to know about the resources available in the Sacramento area, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d be honored to take care of your loved one.
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