| As we age, our mental capabilities decline. | | | | Stay Involved |
| However, we do not have to let it happen | | | | Seniors that feel appreciated and had the opinion |
| without a struggle. | | | | that they had something to contribute tend to |
| Stay Mentally Active | | | | maintain their mental capabilities later in life. Many |
| Seniors that stay mentally active appear to resist | | | | seniors now decide to continue working well into |
| the effects of aging of the brain as opposed to | | | | their seventies because they feel that they have |
| their complacent and inactive companions. | | | | the skills and ability to continue to contribute to |
| Activities that are noted to help increase retention | | | | their jobs or vocations. |
| and maintain sharpness include reading books and | | | | Retirement no longer means a decline in activity |
| magazines, doing puzzles such as crosswords, | | | | or occupation. Many people reach their retirement |
| Jumble, and Sudoku, playing games such as | | | | and use it to change their vocation to something |
| Scrabble, using a computer, learning or playing a | | | | that they have always wanted to do but either |
| musical instrument and attending speeches, | | | | never had the time or the money to pursue it. |
| concerts, lectures and meetings. | | | | Some decide to do volunteer work and some |
| Exercise also plays an important role. Those that | | | | decide to open their own business. One such |
| remain physically active seem to do much better | | | | individual decided that instead of moving into a |
| mentally when tested as compared to idle or | | | | retirement community with "a bunch of old folks" |
| sedentary seniors. | | | | he used his retirement savings and opened an |
| Watching too much television has a hypnotizing | | | | antique car restoration business. |
| effect and puts the brain into a passive mode | | | | Growing old no longer means you are becoming |
| which provides much less mental activity than | | | | useless. Stay active and you can use you |
| participating in group activities such as discussion | | | | experiences after you retire for something you |
| groups, taking outdoor walks, riding a bike, aerobic | | | | have always wanted to do. |
| classes, swimming or even dancing. | | | | |