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[For Seniors] Fun! Games and Ideas to Boost Memory
Games are a form of recreation that let you move your body while having fun and stimulate the brain, helping to prevent dementia.
They’re widely used in many senior and welfare facilities.
This time, among the many types of games, we’ll introduce games and ideas that are especially effective for boosting memory.
As we age, it’s said that recalling things becomes more difficult.
Use the ideas here to strengthen the brain during your usual game activities!
Games also create opportunities for interaction—sparking conversations and helping older adults connect with one another.
By all means, make good use of memory-boosting games!
[For Seniors] Fun! Memory-Boosting Games and Ideas (1–10)
Meal Memory Game
Do you remember what you ate yesterday morning? Many people might be surprised to find they don’t.
That’s why I’d like to suggest the “Meal Memory Game.” In this game, you answer quizzes related to your meals.
It’s good to ask not just what you ate, but also where you ate, who you were with, and what kind of music was playing at the time.
With this approach, even the same questions will have different answers each time, so you can prepare a simple template and enjoy it repeatedly.
How many can you memorize in one minute?
If you have access to a tablet or computer, I also recommend a game called “How many can you remember in one minute?” In this game, you watch a video that briefly shows multiple illustrations, memorize them, and then answer afterward.
It looks simple at first glance, but it actually splits into two phases: thinking about what each illustration is, and then memorizing it.
Because of that, you really have to use your brain to the fullest.
There are also videos on YouTube that present these challenges, so try searching for them.
Letter rearrangement game
I’m sure there are many facilities that want to actively incorporate brain training.
However, we want to avoid brain training that older adults feel reluctant to do.
So how about trying a “letter rearrangement game”? Rearrange scattered hiragana to form words that have proper meaning.
Start simple with fewer characters, and gradually increase the number of characters.
Even if someone makes a small mistake while rearranging, the unexpected answer can be funny and spark laughter.
playing rock-paper-scissors after seeing the opponent’s move (i.e., acting with hindsight/cheating)
If you’re looking for recreational activities that train the brain, such as for dementia prevention, how about “After-the-fact Rock-Paper-Scissors”? Everyone knows rock-paper-scissors, so older adults can start right away.
In this game, the leader shows their hand first, and then participants show theirs, trying to either win or lose according to the instruction.
It’s especially easy to make mistakes when the instruction is to lose, so it’s perfect as a mental workout.
poetry karuta
This is a game that uses popular songs, a little different from a typical “intro quiz.” It’s a highly recommended recreation that lets you enjoy brain training by engaging your vision, hearing, and memory! First, make about 50 pairs of cards: one with the song title and one with the opening lyrics.
Think of them like karuta, with reading cards and grabbing cards.
The rules are simple: lay out the cards with the song titles, and the host sings the song written on the reading card.
Even if you’re not very confident in your singing, it’s fine—the game will definitely liven things up.
It also sparks fun conversations about memories of the songs, like “When this song was popular…” It’s a truly enjoyable quiz! Older adults will likely know many of these hit songs.
PET-bottle bingo for dementia rehabilitation
This is a game where you insert plastic bottle caps into a dedicated stand, aiming to create a row of caps of the same color.
The stand consists of a board with rods attached, and the caps are pre-punched with holes so they can be slid onto the rods.
Players take turns inserting caps of two colors, alternating by color.
While focusing on building your own row and preventing your opponent from completing theirs, the game feels like a three-dimensional version of Five in a Row.
Although it develops thinking and decision-making skills through strategy against your opponent, you can also strengthen finger dexterity by designing the cap holes and practicing sliding the caps onto the rods.
Spot the Difference Game
It’s a game where you look at side-by-side illustrations or photos and find the differences.
It helps train concentration to carefully observe the details of the prompt, as well as memory skills to compare and remember the mistakes you found.
It’s best to start with obvious, large differences and gradually move on to more subtle ones.
If you just can’t find a difference, it may help to use hints that indicate which area contains one.
Encourage players to focus and find the differences on their own to help stimulate brain activity.