Whether you’re in a care home in Leicester, a domiciliary care service provider, or the primary caregiver of a loved one with dementia, you know how important it is to keep them as active as possible, not just physically but also mentally. Games are one of the most effective ways to keep dementia patients engaged and stimulated throughout the day.

You can choose from a variety of dementia games that encourage social interaction and provide an opportunity for you and the patient to engage in something meaningful.

Benefits of Games for Dementia Patients

The right games aren’t just a way to keep dementia patients occupied and busy; they can also have other benefits that may positively impact the condition. Some of the benefits that games can have on someone with dementia include the following:

Slow the Decline of Dementia

Although medications and other forms of therapy are often pursued to slow down dementia, games and activities can also have a positive effect on slowing down the progression of dementia. Games can help maintain the brain’s performance and productivity for longer, allowing patients to continue their day-to-day activities independently for as long as possible. The person can stay active for longer, which might help to reduce the decline of the condition.

Provide a Daily Structure

It’s essential for someone battling dementia to have a daily structure that provides comfort and familiarity. Incorporating dementia games into a person’s daily activities can help provide stability and reduce feelings of confusion and disorientation.

Productivity and Fun

When supporting a person living with dementia, incorporating activities and games can help boost their mood and self-esteem while also providing much-needed enjoyment. It provides the stimulation you need to reduce boredom and negative behaviours.

Boosting Creativity and Expression

Creative games for dementia can help stimulate the brain and enable individuals living with dementia to express themselves through the game. As a result, the individual can feel more connected with the world and those around them.

Reduce Behaviours That Can Be Challenging

One of the effects of declining dementia is a change in personality, which can result in anxiety, agitation and communication concerns and issues. By keeping the loved one occupied and entertained through games, you can significantly reduce behaviours such as repeated questions and aggressions and instead use their energy positively.

Best Games for People with Dementia

Various types of games are ideal for individuals with dementia, depending on the goals and achievements you have in mind. Some of the options available include the following:

Thinking Games

Thinking games for people with dementia focus more on mental stimulation, helping individuals practice their reasoning skills and exercise their brains. Some of the games you can consider to help with thinking include:

Jigsaw Puzzles

Puzzles are a great way to stimulate the mind at any stage of dementia. Compared to more competitive games, puzzles provide mental stimulation in a more contemplative way. Puzzles have no time limit, which allows the elderly person to complete their activity at their own pace.

You can also use custom photo puzzles as a catalyst for helping individuals reawaken past memories.

When choosing a puzzle, it is necessary to consider the capabilities of each senior and whether they are facing any physical or cognitive difficulties.

Dominoes

Dominoes is another excellent game that helps exercise the brain without putting pressure on time. The rules for dominoes are relatively simple. The dominoes also have a simple black-and-white design that makes it easy for elderly patients to understand and use. The sizes of the tiles are also easy to hold and move around the table.

Even though the game is simple, it has a challenging aspect, as it requires seniors to tap into their reasoning and thinking skills by identifying two colours and numbers.

Sudoku

Sudoku is a popular game alongside puzzle games that is often preferred by seniors. It is considered to be a fun and stimulating brain game that uses parts of the brain that you may not always utilise in everyday activities.

With Sudoku, seniors can actively use their abstract reasoning skills and pattern recognition simultaneously to solve the puzzles.

Sudoku also offers a plethora of cognitive benefits, providing a sense of accomplishment that is particularly significant for individuals with dementia.

Chess

Chess is a more complex game, but if you already have a knack for it, it can actually be an effective brain builder that you can easily teach to others or play with people who have dementia. Chess is all about strategy and planning, which helps strengthen cognitive function and encourages players to think outside the box. It also has the added benefit of increasing focus in seniors who may be struggling with concentration due to the symptoms of dementia.

If you’re looking for a simpler alternative with similar features and benefits, you can also consider checkers.

Trivia Games

One of the best aspects of trivia games is their versatility. There are a multitude of categories to choose from, and selecting something that interests the patient can make the game more engaging.

Trivia games can be played by a small group or a large group. The range of trivia topics can vary depending on the group’s dynamics.

Playing trivia games not only helps to exercise the brain but can also help dementia patients remember historical events or things they love.

Physical Games

Besides mental wellness, you also need to consider the physical well-being of the patients, which tends to deteriorate with age. You also need to come up with some physical activities and games that can help dementia patients maintain an active lifestyle and stay socially engaged.

Parachute Game

This is a typical game commonly found in elderly care facilities and nursing homes. It is a way to get up on their feet. Members playing the game need to grab a handle on their end and start to create wave-like motions with the parachute.

A ball is then thrown into the parachute, and the objective is to keep it moving without letting it drop. The purpose of the game is to practice movement for the elderly, especially on their arms. It also increases mobility in the upper body. The game can also help with socialisation because it encourages teamwork and interaction.

Dancing Games

Dancing games are an excellent choice for the elderly who are seeking something a little more enjoyable. Dancing can be a physical, interactive and fun game for them. It can help improve physical health and mental activity, which can benefit seniors with dementia.

Social Games

You can also try social games to help build interaction. One of the most popular social games that you can try out is Bingo. It provides opportunities for socialisation with fellow seniors, which can help older adults experiencing isolation and depression.

You can also try card games, board games, and charades, which are excellent choices for socialisation fun and some mild mental activity to keep the elderly in top condition.