Mental Preparation for Surgery

Ready Mind is a simple tool to help you prepare your mind for surgery. This website offers free brain games, easy at home activities, and clear guidance on how to keep your brain active before your procedure. The goal is to support your thinking, attention, and memory to attempt to reduce the risk of developing a type of serious confusion after surgery called Delirium.Delirium is a sudden change in how your mind works. It can happen over hours or days. People with delirium may feel confused, very sleepy, restless, suspicious, or may see things that are not there. Delirium is a complex illness often triggered by stress to the body like illness, injury, medications, and commonly after surgery. Age is a major risk factor for delirium, this risk is much higher for those who are age 60 or older.Recovery from delirium depends on many factors including your health and mental status prior to developing it. Some patients fully recover while others may experience serious, long-lasting or even terminal illness as a result.Research shows that keeping your brain active before surgery may help lower the chance of developing delirium after surgery. Simple brain activities like puzzles, memory games, or word games can help support your brain. These activities are safe, low cost, and easy to do at home. This mental preparation for surgery is called Cognitive Prehabilitation.To begin, click Get Started.

How to Use This Site:

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 ActivityFree 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 click here: Brain Games.Physical Brain Games
You do not need a computer or phone to keep your mind active. Many simple, low cost activities can help exercise your memory, attention, and problem solving skills. These can be done at home, with family, or on your own.Board games like Scrabble, Bananagrams, Checkers, or simple strategy games help with planning and flexible thinking. Card games such as Solitaire, Go Fish, Rummy, and Uno support memory, attention, and decision making. Paper puzzles like crosswords, word searches, Sudoku, and matching games are also very helpful and easy to find.To see options for physical games click here: Brain Games.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. Choose activities you enjoy. The goal is to stay mentally active for at least one hour each day as you prepare for surgery.Step 4- Ask for Help if Needed
If you have trouble using the website or games.To see your options for online and physical games click Brain Games

Brain Games

Free Online Brain Games:

Physical Games:

You can often get these items for free or at low cost. Many dollar stores, thrift stores, libraries, and community centers offer puzzle books, decks of cards, and simple games. You can also print free word searches, crossword puzzles, and memory sheets from many websites. Even household items can be used. For example, place a few objects on a tray, study them, then cover the tray and try to remember what was there.

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 to help lower risk of delirium. 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 good 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 in one of three ways:
Use Luminosity which supports a number of other languages.
Choose physical games, like puzzles or matching cards in your preferred languageAsk a family member or loved one to help explain instructions to an online game that utilizes numbers, letters, and/or tokens.Q: I do not have access to reliable internet. What can I do?
You can download the Luminosity App on a phone or tablet which can be used offline once downloaded. Otherwise, we recommend you select from the physical options listed under the Brain Games tab.

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