Over the last couple of weeks, the sporting teams in town have kept Kansas Citians on a roller coaster of emotions with every win and loss that they’ve recorded. In a banner week that welcomed in the month of October, the Royals kept us on the edge of our seats with a 12-inning win that clinched their spot in the American League divisional series, the Chiefs beat the New England Patriots 41-14 on Monday Night Football and the Sporting KC players were just honored in a ceremony at the White House. It’s a very good time to be a sports fan in Kansas City!

At the SeniorCare Memory Homes, the residents are also joining in on the excitement and proudly wearing their hometown sports gear as they cheer on their favorite teams to another win and perhaps even a long-awaited pennant (Go Royals!). The SeniorCare Home game watch nights are a fun time for residents, families and caregivers to bond over some sporting fun as they cheer on the Royals, Sporting KC and the Chiefs. With so many great events to choose from, you just hope that you’ve put on the correct team jersey on the right day!

Each game night gathering serves more than a purely entertainment purpose at SeniorCare Homes, they are also a great way to create and enhance the social connections between our residents and caregiver staff. When people gather to watch a game together they create an immediate family-like structure of people with likeminded interests, sort of a modern day tribe, only this time the warriors are sustained with snacks and high-definition entertainment. The sense of belonging built through these gatherings helps create a network that benefits the social, emotional and psychological health of all who are involved, which means there’s less potential for depression or alienation as compared with people who never get to enjoy the fun of hanging out together.

It’s easy to see why these events can be fun but there’s also a health benefit to watching games in a group. Just watching the screen gives the brain a workout. Every twist and turn that a player makes in a game is subconsciously recorded by the mind, stimulating areas of the brain that govern planning and control as well as creating improvements in the visualization and thinking skills of the viewer. And if that wasn’t enough to make you want to throw your own game day party, how about knowing that watching a game can also make viewers feel more optimistic when performing mental and physical tasks? This is what we like to call a win-win situation.

If you’re looking for an opportunity to combine fun, a sporting event and a good cause, we hope that you’ll check out the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in a city near you. The SeniorCare Homes team participated in the local 1- and 3-mile walk on October 5. The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event (held in 600 communities) that is raising awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s. Grab some friends and family members to form your own team, volunteer at a local race or cheer participants on from the sidelines. You’ll be glad that you did!

SeniorCare Homes in Overland Park and Leawood, Kansas, offer the most comfortable and stable assisted living environment to seniors with dementia, memory loss, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Phone (913) 236-0036 to learn more about neighborhood living for the memory impaired.