Children often forbid their elderly parents from doing physical activities and daily activities such as cooking.
In fact, a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation at EMC Sentul Hospital, Dr. Novaria Puspita, Sp.KFR, AIFO-K., said that daily activities such as cooking are good for maintaining brain capacity.
"Dementia is a memory disorder that disrupts life. It can make you forget whether you have eaten or not and forget where your house is. There are stages from mild to more advanced. There are behavioral disorders, anxiety, uncontrolled emotions," said Dr. Novaria in Healthy Monday with Liputan6.com, Monday (5/26/2025).
"The way to sharpen it (memory), must remain active so that it is not easy to forget, many children say 'mother is not allowed to cook, not allowed to do anything' just let it be as long as it is safe," added Dr. Novaria.
Pay Attention to Safety When Cooking
To ensure that the elderly remain safe while cooking, the condition of the kitchen must be considered. Make sure it is not slippery, the placement of tools and ingredients is easy to reach and safe.
"If you are active, it is good, it triggers good cognition. Cooking is a process of thinking about what to cook, what ingredients, what steps, it stimulates (the brain)."
Make Sure Elderly Activities Are Not Too Heavy
Instead of prohibiting the elderly from doing activities, it is better for children to regulate their activities so that they are not too strenuous.
Novaria gave an example, cooking activities include various steps from preparing ingredients to serving. To reduce the workload of the elderly, children can help with some steps, such as when slicing ingredients or when serving.
"Don't be too heavy, we help with food preparation, so that cooking doesn't take too long. So, the elderly can still enjoy cooking, but their energy is still measured and not excessive."
"Ask the elderly, what do you want to cook, what activities do you want to do today. If it's too heavy, stop, there must be a brake," he explained.
Sports and Other Activities
In addition to cooking and daily activities, exercise is also important for the elderly to do regularly. Because, thinking ability will be regenerated with physical activity.
However, it is important to ensure that the choice of sport is appropriate. If the elderly are fit, then swimming and cycling are allowed, while ensuring safety.
"The exercise is light to moderate intensity such as brisk walking, tai chi, light dance, light gymnastics, elderly gymnastics, osteoporosis gymnastics. For those who are healthy, it can be 30 minutes to 1 hour. For those who are vulnerable, the 30 minutes can be divided, 15 minutes in the morning, 15 minutes in the afternoon, must remain active."
"There are also many games for the elderly, writing, reading, social interaction. Social interaction builds cognitive skills. Children and grandchildren meet regularly, can call, video call, attend religious studies. The more they are ignored, the more their brain capacity will decline," concluded Dr. Novaria.
The article was created based on the Healthy Monday program in collaboration between EMC Healthcare and Liputan6, with resource persons dr. Novaria Puspita, Sp.KFR, AIFO – K (Specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at EMC Sentul Hospital) & dr. Yhan Batista, Sp.PD (Internal Medicine Specialist at EMC Cibitung Hospital).