Advice

Ideas to help a person with dementia enjoy games

Playing games with other people is a great way to stay connected and active. There are ways to help a person to continue enjoying them as their dementia progresses. 

Strengths 

Build on the person’s strengths and interests to find games that the person will enjoy. For example, if the person remembers music well, try musical bingo, where players guess the song or finish the lyric. 

A person with dementia might engage more with games they recognise.

Try the classics they may have played in their earlier lives – that could be dominoes, Ludo, snakes and ladders or snap, or perhaps mahjong, chess, backgammon or carrom.

Adapting 

Many games can be adapted to suit someone as their abilities change. You could make up easier rules or simply avoid scoring. Some games have simplified versions you can buy, like Scrabble Junior. 

If the person can’t concentrate for long, make the game shorter. If they lose interest, stop and try again at another time.

Playing in teams could allow someone to be included without putting them under too much pressure. This can also be a fun way for children to spend time with them. 

For a person who has difficulty handling objects, try versions of games with larger pieces, like Jenga Giant or games in our online shop. 

Many people enjoy playing games online or using apps on a device, including some people who don’t usually get on with technology! It’s worth checking apps beforehand to make sure they don’t have lots of confusing ads or offers. 

Playfulness 

You can sometimes bring playfulness into everyday activities – even matching pairs of socks could be a fun game when approached in this way! 

What you said

M Richardson said,

‘We found the game “shut the box” allowed my husband to play with anyone, including young children. He has Alzheimer’s, diagnosed eight years ago.’ 

Lorraine Warin said,

‘Although my dad has now passed, one thing he loved was music. I lived far away from his care home so, on good days when I rang, we would sing some of his favourite songs as we shared a love of musicals. A good game might be playing the first line of a song and seeing if they could recall the next line.’ 

John Allen said,

‘My wife had never played any sport but, when she was 64, I persuaded her to try indoor bowls. She was soon hooked and within two years was representing the club, however a year later she was diagnosed with dementia. 

‘Within a year or so, she started to forget which side of the bowl the bias was on. I put red stickers on one side so that other bowlers could check which side her bowl was in her hand. She continued to for at least five years.’