[Brain Training] Lively Word Quiz for Seniors
Word quizzes are a type of recreation that really livens up day services and senior facilities.
Brain training can seem difficult, but these are easy for anyone to enjoy.
In this article, we’ve gathered word-related quiz questions recommended for older adults.
We introduce many ideas, including quizzes you can do while watching videos and ones you can customize, so we hope you find them helpful.
Try adding word quizzes to your daily recreation and give brain training a go!
- [For Seniors] Fun and Lively! Recommended Quiz Questions
- [For Seniors] Guaranteed to Liven Things Up! A Collection of Brain Training Activities That Will Spark Laughter
- [For Seniors] Laugh-Out-Loud, Crowd-Pleasing! Fun Quiz
- [For Seniors] Lively Wordplay Game: Fun Recreation for Elderly Care
- [For Seniors] Fun and Informative! Health Trivia Quiz
- [For Seniors] Fun Brain Training! Prefecture Quiz
- [For Seniors] Fun Riddles That Stimulate the Brain
- [For Seniors] Fun and Educational True-or-False Quiz
- For seniors: Fun, crowd-pleasing word association game ideas
- Hand games that liven things up for seniors—also great brain training
- [For Seniors] A Brain-Training, Crowd-Pleasing Word Search Game
- [For Seniors] Have Fun with Wordplay Characters! A Collection of Funny Puzzles
- [For Seniors] Enjoyable Brain Training! Proverb Quiz Collection
[Brain Training] Lively Word Quiz for Seniors (21–30)
Compound-word quiz: idioms that repeat the same kanji twice
If you can read them, awesome! Here’s an idea for a quiz featuring compound words that repeat the same kanji twice.
The origins of kanji and the ways they combine each carry meaning and are fascinating, right? This time, there might even be questions that make you think, “There’s a combination like that?!” For example, you might see the word 「細々」 and be asked, “How do you read this kanji?” There are 25 such questions.
The difficulty increases in the latter half, so it could be a good idea to discuss and work together to figure out the answers.
Word guessing quiz
A word-guessing game where players have to identify the target word without using specific, direct terms.
Write the target word on a whiteboard, have the clue-giver sit facing it so they can see, and have the guesser sit with their back to the whiteboard.
For example, if the target is a specific food, the clue-giver must convey its characteristics clearly without naming it, and the guesser must envision the answer from the given hints—so both need to think hard.
It’s a recreational game that feels refreshing and satisfying when you get the answer right.
[Brain Training] Lively Word Quizzes for Seniors (31–40)
Choose the middle letter and make a three-letter word.
@husanasomana Let's have fun making handmade cards!#Indoor PlayChildcareProductionwork
♬ Original song – husanasomana – Sakafure (formerly Asomana-kan)
This is an idea for making three-letter words by choosing the middle letter.
The concept is to correctly match quiz cards with answer cards.
For example, if the quiz card says “な○ま,” you would look for “か” among the answer cards.
Depending on the quiz, there might be multiple correct answers.
Once you get used to it, you can also increase or decrease the number of letters.
The more letters there are, the more complex the quiz becomes.
First, try finding three-letter words that could work as quiz prompts.
Colorful Card Rec – Idiom Quiz
This is an idiom quiz that looks like it could strengthen language skills.
In this version, you look at several prompts and answer which body part they have in common.
For example, if the idioms are “cut through the wind,” “shrug,” and “breathe,” the common body part would be “shoulder.” In Japanese, you often hear expressions like “cut through the wind with your shoulders,” “shrug your shoulders,” and “breathe with your shoulders.” Try creating questions like this.
Since these are expressions everyone knows, it should be fun for groups.
As a variation, it could also be fun to work backward from a body part to come up with related idioms.
Word Search: Constellations Edition
Among the letters scattered in a 6-by-6 grid, the names of constellations are hidden.
The names can appear in three directions—vertical, horizontal, and diagonal—and some 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 and focused.
Since the answers are constellation names, it may be somewhat difficult for those not familiar with them.
Studying constellations in advance could be the key to success.
Learning new knowledge also helps stimulate the brain, so it may be effective in preventing cognitive decline.
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.
Where is the food?
Hiragana characters are arranged within a 5-by-5 grid.
From this grid, try to find words that are names of foods.
It’s simple, but actually quite challenging.
Even characters you could find if you stay calm and take your time can suddenly become hard to spot if you set a time limit.
When creating problems, it’s good to prepare multiple answers rather than limiting it to just one.
In senior facilities, having participants create puzzles for each other and swap them not only fosters interaction but also doubles the brain-training effect.
Give it a try!