Senior Living News

Few things are more satisfying than snapping the final piece into place on a jigsaw puzzle, but jigsaws are more than just a pleasing pastime. These engaging puzzles also have cognitive and physical benefits, particularly as you age. Keep reading to learn more about the potential rewards jigsaw puzzles may offer older adults — plus a few tips to get you started.

The Benefits of Jigsaw Puzzles

Staying sharp is important, especially as you get older, and puzzles can help you do that. Studies suggest that engaging in mental exercises, such as working on jigsaw puzzles, may help the brain resist the cognitive decline that can accompany aging. Here are a few of the ways jigsaw puzzles may help you improve your cognitive and physical abilities so you can stay independent longer:

• Stress reduction: Studies have shown that people who experience chronic stress may age more quickly than others. Stress can also cause hypertension. Although jigsaw puzzles can be challenging, putting one together can reduce your stress level and improve your mood. That’s likely because a challenging puzzle distracts you from life’s problems and the negative thinking that can result. Completing the puzzle can also spark a feeling of accomplishment for a quick mood boost.
• Improved hand-eye coordination: Hand-eye coordination often declines as you age. Jigsaw puzzles are a great way to refine your fine motor skills and improve hand-eye coordination, making it easier to stay independent. That’s because you’re using the small muscles in your hand to grasp and maneuver the pieces — a skill that’s similar to buttoning a shirt.
• Heightened concentration: Successfully completing a jigsaw puzzle requires focus. When you regularly engage in puzzling, your brain learns to concentrate on the task and avoid distractions — a skill you can apply to other areas of your life. In fact, by increasing your ability to concentrate and focus, you can even help improve your overall memory.
• Enhanced problem-solving skills: When you work on a jigsaw puzzle, you need to analyze the pieces to figure out how they fit together. You have to assess colors, lines and shapes. This involves various cognitive skills, such as logical reasoning and critical thinking, that are crucial for problem-solving.
• Increased patience: Jigsaw puzzles may take hours or even days to put together, so they require a great deal of patience and perseverance. Regularly working on jigsaw puzzles lets you practice these critical abilities so you can apply them to other aspects of your life.

Tips for Getting Started With Jigsaw Puzzles

Sold on the merits of jigsaws? If you’re ready to reap rewards (and enjoyment) from a jigsaw puzzle, here are a few tips to help you get started:

• Start small: Jigsaw puzzles come in various shapes and sizes, so before you pick up that 1,000-piece whopper, try something smaller. A 75- or 100-piece puzzle can be a great way to see if puzzling is something you’ll enjoy.
• Choose puzzles that suit your skill level: Different puzzles can require different degrees of skill, even if they have the same number of pieces. When choosing a puzzle, consider the size and shapes of the pieces and the design itself so you get the right level of complexity. For example, interlocking puzzle pieces are usually easier to work with than ones that fit together loosely, and multicolored puzzles with clearly delineated designs are typically easier to complete than puzzles with repeating patterns and only a few colors, such as clouds or abstract designs.
• Save money by borrowing: Jigsaw puzzles can be costly, but many libraries — including those at senior living communities such as LifeStream at Glendale — loan out puzzles. By borrowing puzzles, you can play as often as you’d like without blowing your budget.
• Try a puzzle app: Jigsaw puzzles have gone digital, so if you want to try out this hobby, you can do it right from your phone or tablet with one of the many jigsaw puzzle apps.
• Work in sections: A large jigsaw can be overwhelming, particularly if you’re new to the hobby, so work on a small section at a time, such as a single color or image.
• Work from the outside in: Finding the edge pieces first is a great way to start. These pieces typically have one flat side, so they're easy to find. Plus, by putting them together first, you'll create a frame that'll make it easier to solve the rest of the puzzle.
• Be social: Jigsaw puzzles are an ideal solitary activity, but they’re also perfect for sharing with friends (or visiting grandkids). If you're living in a senior community, head to the game room to find fellow puzzle aficionados. It's a great way to meet people, especially if you've just moved in.
• Tuck it out of sight: If you're worried about puzzle pieces cluttering up your spotless suite, there are several solutions. Roll-up puzzle mats make it easy to store and transport puzzles when you aren't using them — or buy a flat puzzle board that you can slide under your bed. Some even come with covers to protect your puzzle from stains and dust.
• Use it as artwork: If you love your puzzle, use it as artwork for your senior living apartment. Simply coat it with a product like Mod Podge Puzzle Saver, then frame and hang it in a prime location.