A Great Use Of Time And Energy
We’ve talked repeatedly about eldercare activity and how to keep your loved one engaged and focused in the here and now. We’ve talked about good topics to bring up, good things to bring with you to remind them of better times, and how to ensure that visits with others go smoothly.
We never talked about playing games with them!
It’s a fantastic option, for several reasons. Now, obviously, I’m not talking about a rousing game of Monopoly or heading out to the lacrosse field to throw the ball around. We need to find things that will be at their level mentally as well as physically. Let’s see what is in that area:
Play Cards With Me!
I grew up with parents who liked to play cards. Pop would always bring a deck or two on any vacation we took, and they would magically appear when it was raining at the beach, or we had a spare hour during a sea day on a cruise. I have fabulous memories of us playing card games at their dining room table in Florida, and Pop teaching the kids the fun of Skip-Bo at my kitchen table. And this goes great with eldercare activity.
Playing card games (52 card decks)
Don’t judge Pop for teaching my kids how to count to 21, please! It is an extremely quick and easy game to teach the very young—and now the very old—that you can play with very little preparation and very little time. Over the years, Pop taught my kids many different games—including solitaire—that my kids still play today. These simple games are perfect for you to play with your loved one. Maybe, just maybe, if you leave the deck with them, they will pick it up and play a few of those solitaire games themselves.
Games that use cards
I mentioned Skip-bo, which has been a family favorite for decades. All you need to do is count to 12 to be successful at that game. There are many others available that have that same, simple playing style you could use. Uno has always been a great alternative, and I’d even put Rack-O in this category. A quick visit to your local Target or Walmart will help you find several different card games that might be simple enough to enjoy with your dementia patient.
Eldercare Activity: Let’s Play A Board Game
Taking a little more time and space to set up, there are a number of board games that might be suitable for your elderly loved one. Clearly, I suggest you avoid setting up Mouse Trap or Risk, but there are plenty of simple games that could provide an hour or so of fun with your loved one.
Keep it simple
Remember we are trying to pleasantly spend an hour or so with our Granma. We aren’t in any kind of competition or tournament, so make sure you are presenting something to her that will be not only a successful endeavor, but will provide you with time to relax and chat.
Use familiar games
Some of the greatest games for young children have been around for generations, and that is what I am recommending you use to entertain your loved one. While Life and Clue are fun games to play, they are significantly more involved and intricate for your dementia patient. I’m talking Candyland and Chutes and Ladders—games that don’t take too long, and don’t take too much mental energy.
Use dice games
The simple act of rolling dice is enjoyable to dementia patients. Maybe it’s the sounds the dice make in the cup, or the way they scatter when they fall, but something about it is quite enjoyable to my Mom. It’s impossible at this point for her to keep score in Yahtzee, but she can certainly tell when she gets five of the same number on the dice! The games with those types of actions—spinning the wheel, rolling the dice—are a great way for them to be engaged in things at their level.
You Can Play Without Me
While I try to give you suggestions for making visits enjoyable for both sides, I personally don’t really worry about visiting. I can always find something to talk about, something on television to comment on, and bring articles or magazines that she might become engaged in.
Also, I absolutely detest the idea of her being bored and alone when I’m gone. I have visions of her sitting alone in a dark room just staring off into space. So, I try to introduce things that will keep her engaged after I’m gone. Here are a few things I’ve brought to her:
Pencil and paper workbooks
It is very important to me that I don’t insult Mom, or make her feel like I am treating her like a child. That being said, did you know you can buy workbooks designed for kids starting at pre-school age? Tear off the cover. Really—it’s that simple. This is a genuine activity for eldercare. Mom has found enjoyment doing the different activities and pages of workbooks without realizing they are designed for very young children.
Doing puzzles
All my life, Mom has enjoyed Word Search puzzles. Every vacation I had, I remember her relaxing with a puzzle book and a pen. There’s absolutely no reason she can’t continue to enjoy that activity now that her mind is slowing down! Crosswords or logic puzzles might be a bit much for her, but you can find simple puzzle books of all kinds online.
Art activities
On his last visit, Big Brother Bob got Mom a coloring book and a big set of colored pencils. It. Was. Brilliant. It sits on her shelf in plain view, and over time I have looked inside to find different pages at various stages of being completed. Mom always liked those types of activities—paint by number sets and puzzles—and this book is an excellent example of a similar activity she can still enjoy.
Games Keep The Mind Sharp!
Our overarching goal is to keep our loved one present and engaged as much as we can while their mind is starting to decline in cognitive ability. This sort of eldercare activity is a great way to do that! The best way to do that is to continue to present them with stimulus and cognitive activities at their level. We are trying to stave off the inevitable, and provide as much entertainment as we possibly can. We are trying to keep them with us in the here and now. That’s why short games are such an excellent idea for you—it provides a great diversion from their regular day, and provides a way for you to connect.
Fantastic for guests unfamiliar with dementia
People who infrequently visit dementia patients may be not only unfamiliar with their cognitive level, but also might not have a wealth of ideas for making the visit enjoyable for both parties. Having a deck of cards available, or a Yahtzee set, might encourage the visitors to engage more fully with the patient, and spend more time in their company.
Opens great lines of communication
One of the things I enjoy the most when I play a game with Mom is the conversations that ensue. We might be playing Skip-Bo, but the conversation will get into decades ago, playing cards in Wildwood, or the time we were stuck in the Orlando airport with nothing but a deck of cards. Playing any type of game will encourage Mom to tell me about how they spent their leisure time when she was young and they were very poor. She talks about playing outside until dark, and roller skating through Newark’s Branchbrook Park.
Keeps those neurons firing
All of us doing The Job are trying desperately to keep our loved one with us mentally as long as we can. It’s much too easy for Mom to fall into inactivity—physically and mentally—which just gives the dementia more power over her. Engaging her in any type of gaming-style activity fights against the power of dementia. Our card game might only last ten minutes next time, but that’s ten minutes of the Mom I grew up with.
Make Everything Available. Let Them Choose!
I hope I’ve convinced you to bring a game with you the next time you visit your loved one. It’s a fun and simple eldercare activity everyone can enjoy Whether you are engaging them in penny-a-hand poker or a spirited game of Candyland, it will be a memorable experience. I love when I go into Mom’s room to see the pencil stuck in one page or another of her puzzle book—it means that she used at least some of her time engaging her mind and firing up those neurons.
So get out there and buy a new set of Kerplunk or Hungry Hungry Hippos. You’ll be transported to your childhood while you help them maintain their adulthood.
Plus, they’ll let you win. They are still your parent, after all.
THANK YOU FOR READING THIS FAR
Wow! You made it! Thank you for reading about eldercare activity!
Hey, since you’re here! You may as well check out part 1 of my Mother-In-Law story, here, or if you’ve read that, check out part 2, here! Or maybe you want to hear more about Pop, here. Or, check out our other topics here! Either way, I appreciate you!
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