Friday FAQs series:

“Mom is in her late 70's and doesn't want to leave the house anymore. What are some things I can do to support her?”

Care Coordinator Beth Regner, PA-C, CDP, a licensed physician assistant with over twenty years in healthcare, has this to share.  

This is such a common situation. Oftentimes as individuals age, they lose their spouse, siblings, and friends to old age and disease, and life can become overwhelming. Physical injuries, pain, and worsening eyesight can also create significant limitations. Frequently, people respond to these circumstances by closing themselves off from the world. Unfortunately, isolation and loneliness are risk factors for worsening memory, cognitive health, and physical health.

According to the National Institute on Aging, the health risks of prolonged isolation are equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Social isolation may also have a negative impact on brain health and has been linked to poorer cognitive function and higher risk for dementia by 50%, including Alzheimer's disease. 

Thankfully, there are straightforward ways to combat cognitive decline, even when leaving the home becomes more difficult.

Physical Activity: Exercise is one of the most well-studied activities to support and enhance cognitive health. Physical exercise stimulates the production of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), a hormone that supports neurons (brain cells) and stimulates formation of connections between neurons, which is the basis of memory. Contracting muscle is a major source of BDNF.

Skeletal muscle activity has important immune effects that modify brain function and reduce the breakdown of muscle tissue. Regular exercise leads to changes in the genes that code for the production of BDNF, so that more BDNF is produced over time. These changes can lead to a healthier brain into older age and can help sustain memory and cognition and decrease the risk of dementia.

Simple exercises like walking, standing up from a chair repeatedly (also called sit-to-stands or chair squats), and using 1-2lb hand weights for biceps curls and arm circles can be enough to stimulate BDNF release and activate muscle growth. Additionally, exercise releases the feel-good hormones dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins, which can support mood, concentration, and emotional health.

Novel Activities:

New or novel activities engage the brain in different ways than typical activities of daily living, like dressing, personal care, meal preparation, and housework (sometimes referred to as “cognitive monotony”). Unique experiences can create new processing patterns in the brain, facilitating new networks between brain cells and promoting cognitive growth and enrichment, as well as improved mood and psychological health. All of this can be referred to as “neuroplasticity”, which is essential to supporting and maintaining functional brain health.   

·      Sensory activities – Smelling essential oils, flowers, baking bread, etc. are enriching to unique areas of the brain. Equally, physical touch of items of different textures, such as soft, smooth, bumpy, etc. activates neurons to stimulate cognitive function. Consider activities like knitting, gardening, or painting that combine scent, texture, and dexterity to increase cognitive stimulation.

·      Language acquisition – Attempting to learn a new language has been widely documented as a highly comprehensive neuroplasticity intervention. A combination of listening to a language and reading words in that language have been shown to significantly activate both hemispheres of the brain. Language-learning apps, podcasts, and YouTube videos make learning words in a new language extremely accessible.

·      Music – According to a 2025 article in US News & World Report, music can trigger specific actions in the brain that improve certain motor activities, like walking and can help people speak better and think quicker. Music therapy has also been shown to reduce agitation and improve mood, memory, communication, social connection and quality of life. Attending a local concert, playing classical music in the background at home, or searching up favorite old tunes and theme songs to famous movies and TV shows can be highly enriching.

·      Problem-solving – Most of us recognize that tasks requiring critical thinking skills are helpful for boosting brain function. Making use of jigsaw puzzles, word searches, sudoku, and chess or checkers are obviously great ways to exercise the brain. Also, cooking, baking, decorating, and scrap-booking count as problem-solving activities that are incredibly beneficial.

Socialization: If loneliness leads to neurocognitive decline, it stands to reason that socialization with other people builds up the brain's abilities, and that is absolutely the case. The quality and depth of human interactions can directly influence neuroplastic changes in brain – especially in regions responsible for stress regulation, memory storage, and cognitive flexibility. Meaningful interpersonal interactions also trigger the release of oxytocin, a neurotransmitter that facilitates social bonding, trust, and positive emotions. Think about combining social interactions with exercises like walking, or in collaborative activities like book clubs, current event discussions, or game nights, to heighten the effects.

Using tools and resources in your own home and community are easy and extremely effective ways to assist your loved one with maintaining their brain health and can have a wonderful impact on quality of life.

At Schluter & Hughes Law Firm, PLLC we have dedicated care coordinators who help seniors and their families navigate the maze of aging services that make up the continuum of care.  Our Care Coordinators, nurses and care professionals, are problem solvers and provide services ranging from education, attending doctor visits, living transitions, and providing in-home safety suggestions.

If you are looking for support for yourself or a loved one, our care coordinators are here for you. Call for a complimentary consultation.