STUDIO CITY (CBSLA.com) — Heather Yost of Senior Helpers stopped by KCAL9 Tuesday to talk about how the organization keeps seniors’ minds active by helping local families create “back-to-school backpacks” for seniors.

Senior Helpers encourages seniors to participate in cognitive activities, games and crafts in order to decrease memory loss.

Yost gave viewers suggested items to put in a “back-to-school backpack” for seniors.

Backpack items should include:

• Hand-held computer games (such as Connect Four or Scrabble)

• Books, magazines or crossword puzzles

• Do-It-Yourself birdhouse kit

• Fake flowers to arrange

• Deck of cards

• Etch-a-sketch (draw or play games such as Hang Man, Tic-Tac-Toe, etc.)

• Paint by numbers (model cars or other objects)

• Gardening seeds

For more information, visit Senior Helpers.