[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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- Hand games that liven things up for seniors—also great brain training
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- Recreation Activities Effective for Long-Term Care Prevention for Seniors
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[For Seniors] Fun! Games and Ideas to Boost Memory (21–30)
Mackerel and Spanish mackerel: a game where you only take the cards with the same kanji
If you want to train your visual discrimination, try this! Here’s a game where you only grab cards with the same kanji.
First, write two similar-looking kanji—such as 鯖 and 鰆—on cards, making sure each one appears the same number of times.
When the game begins, one person quickly gathers all the mackerel (saba) cards, while the other quickly gathers all the Spanish mackerel (sawara) cards.
The player who gathers all of their cards first wins.
Because you have to instantly tell apart similar shapes, it naturally boosts fine visual recognition, and it also seems to improve concentration and decision-making.
It’s fun to include a variety of kanji, symbols, or pictures, too.
Give it a try for inspiration!
Number Cop
Let me introduce Number Cups, a brain-training game you can do with minimal preparation.
All you need are construction paper and paper cups.
Write the numbers 1 through 9 on both the construction paper and the paper cups, and place the construction paper on the floor or table.
At the start signal, place each paper cup on the paper with the matching number.
Because it requires comprehension and decision-making—identifying which number and where to place it—along with quick reactions, it sends plenty of stimulation to the brain.
You can expect it to help prevent cognitive decline while having fun as a game.
[For Seniors] Fun! Games and Ideas to Boost Memory (31–40)
Music Therapy: Fun with Rhythm
Recreation that uses music is popular with many people.
This time, we’ll introduce ideas for rhythm-based music therapy.
When you move your body to a rhythm, it becomes a dual task: you have to both “listen” to the rhythm and “move” in time with it, processing these two actions simultaneously.
This creates a situation where the brain works to its fullest.
Above all, moving together to music tends to create excitement and a sense of unity, making it a fun activity for everyone.
Reminiscence Session: Nostalgic Tools from Early Showa Era
Reminiscence therapy is a type of psychotherapy in which you choose a theme, recall past memories, and reflect on the scenery, environment, and your own self from that time.
To help you remember, it’s good to prepare photos or videos of tools you used in the past—or the actual items if possible.
By recalling details such as how the tool was used (“I used it like this”), when and under what circumstances (“I used it at night after finishing farm work”), or specific experiences (“I was scolded because I couldn’t use it well”), you can evoke a wide range of memories.
You may learn related episodes and even remember things the person themselves had forgotten.
When continued, this approach is considered to have beneficial effects on improving cognitive function.
Word search with lyrics about Mt. Fuji
Let’s enjoy some brain training using familiar children’s songs! This time, we’ll use the lyrics of “Mount Fuji.” We’ll make a fill-in-the-blank activity with parts of the lyrics missing, and have participants think about what words go there.
Instead of just recalling the lyrics, they will search for words from prepared letter cards and assemble them.
Finding the correct answer gives a real sense of accomplishment.
Using well-known songs familiar to seniors makes the activity approachable and can also lead into singing.
It’s a fun way to help prevent cognitive decline, so it’s recommended as a recreation activity in senior care facilities.
Word Search: Fruits Edition
Amid the letters scattered across a 6-by-6 grid, there are hidden names of fruits.
The names can be arranged in three ways—vertically, horizontally, and diagonally—and some words must be read from right to left or bottom to top, so read carefully to find the correct combinations.
Each puzzle has a time limit, which can make you feel rushed, but it’s important to stay calm.
The difficulty is a bit high, but you can try as many times as you need until you find them.
In addition to concentration, this also develops thinking skills and word retrieval, and may help prevent cognitive decline.
Dual-task exercises
Performing two actions at the same time is called a “dual task.” For example, cooking while watching TV or taking notes while talking on the phone.
When you perform two actions simultaneously, various areas of the brain become activated to organize the information needed for each action.
This time, we will introduce exercises that intentionally incorporate dual tasks by combining multiple movements.
By stimulating the brain, these exercises may help prevent cognitive decline.
They can be done either standing or sitting, making them a great option for recreational activities in senior care facilities.