3 Fun Games for Seniors with Dementia Improve Quality of Life

Activities for people with dementia bring happier days

Keeping seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia engaged, happily occupied, and in a good mood is every caregiver’s goal.

Failure-free activities improve quality of life because they give satisfaction and enjoyment.

We rounded up 3 fun, senior-friendly games that are perfect for seniors with dementia. They’re inexpensive and easy to adapt for different ability levels.

Plus, these activities are flexible. They can be played by your older adult alone, together with you, or with family as a group activity.

Games can also help family members, especially children, have a successful visit where everyone has a good time.

3 fun games for seniors with dementia improve quality of life

1. DIY Skee-Ball game

The basic idea of Skee-Ball is to roll a ball into a hole marked with a certain number of points.

In our DIY game, we’ll use large bowls and bean bags. Label the bowls with different points and throw the bean bags into the bowls to score points.

This is a game that your older adult can play from a seated or standing position. This game is especially fun with grandchildren!

Place the bowls anywhere in front of your older adult, they don’t have to be arranged in the classic lineup.

The goal is to make the game easy enough to be fun, but challenging enough so they’ll feel satisfied with the points they score.

Use anything handy for the bowls, either ones that you already have, inexpensive aluminum food trays found at grocery stores, or plastic bowls found at dollar stores.

Or, if you prefer, don’t use bowls or containers at all. Simply mark off large squares on the floor with removable painter’s tape, assign points, and toss bean bags into those areas to score points.

Bean bags can be homemade or store bought. DIY bean bags are simple to make – here’s how to sew them or make them without sewing. Here’s where to buy a set.

 

2. Indoor chair golf

If your older adult used to love playing golf, an indoor putting mat is a great way to enjoy the sport again.

They could putt while sitting, like in the above photo, or standing.

They might already have golf balls and a putter, if not, get some inexpensive balls and a putter.

 

3. DIY sponge tower stacking game

This simple stacking game is surprisingly addictive. Just cut strips from colorful dry sponges and start building towers of any pattern or height.

 

Recommended for you:

• Activities for Dementia: 10 Fun, No-Fail Ideas
• 10 Affordable Products for People with Dementia That Increase Comfort and Calm
• 4 Benefits of Activities for Dementia and 5 Ways to Adapt Daily Tasks

 

By DailyCaring Editorial Team
Images: Alzheimer Society, Pinterest, Pinterest, Toddler Approved

 

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