Engaging seniors with dementia can be fun, and meaningful activities can even boost one's mood while improving cognitive function! Games are an excellent way to stimulate the mind, encourage social interaction, and enhance their quality of life, while also making caregiving moments more enjoyable.
In this article, we share three simple yet effective games designed specifically for seniors with dementia, helping them stay active, connected, and happy.”
Every caregiver's goal is to keep seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia engaged, happily occupied, and in a good mood. We rounded up three fun, senior-friendly games perfect for this purpose. They’re inexpensive and easy to adapt for different ability levels.
Activities For People With Dementia Bring Happier Days
Failure-free activities improve an aging adult's quality of life by giving satisfaction and enjoyment.
Plus, these activities are flexible. Your older adult can play them alone, with you, or as a group activity with family.
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 entertaining 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 that players will be satisfied with the points they score.
You can use anything handy for the bowls, such as ones you already have, inexpensive aluminum food trays found at grocery stores, or plastic bowls from dollar stores.
Or, if you prefer, you can skip using bowls or containers altogether. 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 knock it in while sitting or standing, as in the above photo.
They might already have golf balls and a putter; if not, they can easily purchase 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
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About the Author
Connie Chow
Connie was a hands-on caregiver for her grandmother for 20 years. (Grandma made it to 101 years old!) She knows how challenging, overwhelming, and all-consuming caring for an older adult can be. She also knows how important support is — especially in the form of practical solutions, valuable resources, and self-care tips.
A simple game that my husband with moderate dementia enjoys is “keep the balloon up.” Players can all be seated (around the living room, for example). Blow up a large-ish balloon and just toss it in the air. Whoever is closest the balloon gentle swats it to keep it afloat.
That’s a fun, gentle game that can be enjoyed by all! Thanks for sharing 💜