[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!
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[For Seniors] Fun! Games and Ideas to Boost Memory (21–30)
Singing game of “Antagata Dokosa”
Some older adults may have memories of playing ball games to the temari song “Antagata Dokosa.” Here’s a finger play that matches the “Antagata Dokosa” song.
Make a gun shape and a fox shape with your fingers to match the imagery in the lyrics.
To the melody, alternate the finger shapes between left and right.
Once you get used to it, try speeding up the tempo.
In addition to moving your fingers, taking on tasks that feel “a bit difficult” is also said to activate the brain.
Brain-training hand game drawing different shapes with each hand
In everyday life, we rarely make different movements with our left and right sides.
So when we do, the unfamiliar motions stimulate the brain and help activate it.
This time, try making a right triangle with the fingers of your right hand, and move the fingers of your left hand up and down.
It’s a simple motion, but surprisingly challenging.
Your right and left fingers might end up doing the same thing.
Still, by thinking through the movements, you activate your brain.
When you’re doing something you’re used to, the brain supposedly doesn’t get activated.
Who am I? Animal edition
Let me introduce a game where you guess an animal based on three clues: “Who am I?” As each hint is given, you get closer to the answer, so by the final hint you should be able to figure it out.
You can show the questions, but you can also run the game for a large group by reading them aloud without showing them.
This creates the dual task of memorizing the prompts and thinking while remembering, which stimulates the brain.
It’s a recommended activity because it’s fun and may help prevent cognitive decline.
Who am I? Historical Figures Edition
Let me introduce “Who Am I?”, a game where you guess a famous historical figure using three hints.
Each hint becomes more specific—second more than the first, third more than the second—so both history buffs and beginners can enjoy it.
You can also project it on a screen to play with a large group.
Using a rule like “If you know the answer, raise your hand instead of saying it” prevents spoilers and keeps it fun, while a rule like “Discuss your thoughts together as you go” lets everyone enjoy thinking it through as a group.
Proverb Match
Let me introduce a proverb matching game that stimulates your vocabulary while having fun.
First, prepare 20–30 proverbs and write the first half and second half on separate cards.
Lay the cards out randomly on a table and look for pairs that form complete proverbs by matching the first halves with the second halves.
Because it uses familiar Japanese proverbs, it encourages you to revisit your memory, rediscover culture and general knowledge, and activate cognitive functions.
The sense of achievement when you find the correct pair can also boost self-esteem! It will be even more exciting if you split into teams or pairs and work together.
Please give it a try.
A game where you create prefecture names using 16 katakana characters
Let me introduce a fun thinking game where you create Japanese prefecture names using 16 katakana characters.
Write one katakana character per square on a sheet, preparing a paper with 16 characters.
Then, combine the katakana to see how many prefecture names you can form and compete for the highest count.
It’s likely to get lively if you split into teams, set a time limit at each table, and take on the challenge.
It’s also a fun game that can help prevent cognitive decline and stimulate communication, so give it a try.
You might discover something new!
Animal Battle
Let’s make our own original cards and have some fun! First, prepare six cards.
If you’re repurposing unused cards, we recommend putting a card and a piece of white paper into a sleeve to create one.
After choosing a theme you like—such as animals or vehicles—write the card’s name, a number showing its power from 0 to 6, and draw an illustration on each card.
Two players battle with three cards each.
Both players place a card face down, reveal them at the same time, and the card with the higher power wins.
You play three battles, and the first to win two is the overall winner.
It sounds fun from the very process of making your original cards.
The rules are simple, and you can play with just a few cards, so give it a try!