Are there any suggestions as to games, puzzles etc... that can be…

My father is 88 years old and is suspected of having a stroke in the last 4 - 6 weeks. Late last year it was determined that he has previously had 4 'silent' strokes. Following this most recent stroke his short term memory is basically 'shot', for example 30 minutes after seeing the doctor he cannot remember that he has been to the doctor. He lives with my 87 year old mother. Whereas my father used to be very active on his computer, using excel spreadsheets and solving physics problems as a hobby (he is a retired engineer), he now just sits there and watches TV (we used to complain that he spent to much time on his computer). We would like to give my father some puzzles or games to help stimulate him and hopefully aid in memory recovery, however we don't want to overwhelm and confuse him. Are there any suggestions with regards to this that we can do from home with him.

Hello,

Thank you for reaching out to us at StrokeLine via ‘Ask a Health Professional’. We are sorry to hear about your father experiencing 4 silent strokes and his memory changes.

Memory problems can occur with most brain disorders and are particularly common with brain injuries such as stroke.

It is important for your father and another family member, to discuss the memory changes with his GP or doctor. They may be able to refer him to an occupational therapist who may look at how these changes affect your father’s ability to perform their usual tasks and develop strategies for him to use.

If it is possible, it may also be beneficial to ensure someone attends these doctors’ meetings with your father or ask the doctor to write notes about the important points from the meeting.

Some things that stroke survivors can do that may help with cognitive changes post-stroke are to:

Rest and relax. Your father’s difficulties may get worse when he is stressed or tired, so it is important to rest.
Pace yourself. Limit the number of things he does at once. Avoid multi tasking.
Keep it simple. Keep instructions short with no more than six words to a sentence. Only one or two instructions at a time.
Support concentration. Your father should try to focus only on what people are saying by being in a quiet environment and limiting distractions.

Using memory aids can also be very helpful, including techniques such as:

Using notebooks, diaries, alarms and even notes around the house
Writing appointments or important information down
Using photos or pictures to trigger your memory.
Using a medication manager if necessary such as a dosette box or blister pack. You can speak to your local pharmacy about this.

It is unclear about your father’s capacity to use brain training apps, however, here are a list of some that we cannot directly recommend, but target memory and attention specifically:

Luminosity – focuses on speed, memory, attention, flexibility, problem solving, words, and maths.
Peak – focuses on targeting the memory, problem solving, and mental agility.
CogniFit – all about concentration, coordination, driving, memory, mental arithmetic, and reasoning, working to improve attention and perception.

There are also a couple of websites that may be helpful as they have memory games and tests, including:

It would be worth discussing these with an occupational therapist first to ensure they are at the right level and not too challenging or easy.

If you would like more information or support, please do not hesitate to contact us on StrokeLine 1800 787 653 or email strokeline@strokefoundation.org.au. We are available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm AEST.

Warm regards,

Karina and Kath