Mental Preparation for Surgery
Explanation of post-operative deliriumexplanation of its consequencesexplanation of cognitive prehabilitation
How to Use This Site:
Staying mentally active before surgery has been shown to help lower your risk of delirium, which is a type of confusion that can happen after an operation.Your Goal: Do 1 Hour of Brain Games each day before your surgery for a total of 10 hours.Step 1: Pick a schedule. You can break this hour into whatever schedule works best for you, for example:1 session of 60 minutes
2 sessions of 30 minutes
3 sessions of 20 minutesAny combination is fine. The most important thing is the total daily time.Step 2. Choose Your Activity Type: Free Online Brain Games are preferred because they are easy to use, the most stimulating, and backed by research. Some may be used without need for internet access like the Luminosity App.You can play these on a phone, tablet, or computer. See the links in the Brain Games section.Physical Brain Games (no device needed)
These are great if you prefer hands-on games:Word searchesCard games like solitaireSimple puzzlesMatching or memory card setsMany people already have these at home.Step 3: Keep It Simple
You do not need to win or finish every level.
The goal is to keep your brain active, not to be perfect.4. Ask for Help if Needed
If you have trouble using the website or games:Ask a family member or friend for help
Brain Games
Free Online Brain Games:
| Clickable Links | Accessible on | Internet Required? | Languages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luminosity | Phone/Tablet/Computer Browser or App | No | English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, Japanese, Korean |
| Brain Gym | Phone/Tablet/Computer Browser | Yes | English |
| Memory Matching | Phone/Tablet/Computer Browser | Yes | English |
| Mind Games | Phone/Tablet/Computer Browser | Yes | English |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Ready Mind?
A: Ready Mind is a free website that brings together simple brain games and activities you can do before surgery. These games help keep your mind active and may lower your risk of confusion after the operation.Q: Will this prevent delirium for sure?
A: No, using these resources will not guarantee that you or your loved one does not experience delirium after surgery. Many things affect how the brain reacts to surgery. Doing regular brain activities before surgery has been shown to help support your brain and improve your recovery while lowering your risk of delirium. Ready Mind is one tool to help keep your mind strong.Q: What if I miss a day?
A: That’s okay. Just start again the next day. The goal is to stay active most days, not to be perfect.
Every bit of practice helps your brain prepare for surgery.Q: Which resource is best?
A: All the activities on Ready Mind are good choices. However, Lumosity has been used in research studies on delirium prevention, so it is a strong option if you are comfortable using online games as it is free and user friendly.If you prefer no-technology options, physical games like card games, word searches, puzzles, or matching games are also excellent choices. The best resource is the one you enjoy and will use regularly.Q: I’m not comfortable with technology. What should I do?
A: You can choose the physical activities instead.
These include card games, puzzles, word searches, and memory activities that do not require a phone or computer.
You may also ask a family member, friend, or caregiver to help you get started with the online games if you wish.Q: English is not my first or most comfortable language. What can I do?
A: You can still use Ready Mind.
Here are some good options:Use Luminosity which supports a number of other languages. Choose physical games, like puzzles or matching cards in your preferred languageUse number or picture-based games, which rely less on English.Ask a family member or loved one to help explain instructions, if you want.
More Information
Section Here explaining the literature