Games for Senior Citizens

Senior Citizens need to stay active and continue to live even when they are in nursing homes, or retirement communities. Most senior citizens aren’t as physically capable as they once were. This can be quite depressing especially when one still has one’s mind. The best thing to do for your beloved senior is to find activities and games that will work the senior citizen to his/her limit. Even if it’s just for the mind.

For a small amount of senior citizens to play try a game like hang-man. This is a child’s game only when children are playing. If seniors are playing each other it automatically becomes a game for their age group. If you have a big chalk board for a group to play would be best.

An activity for seniors citizens, 1 or 2 players, is to put a puzzle together. This will work their hands and dexterity as well as their minds. Buy any puzzle for adults.

A game for seniors to enjoy if they can walk a little, might be charades. To make it somewhat easier, write down what is to be acted out, 1 item on each 3 ½ x 5 note card and hand it to whoever’s turn it may be. If there are enough seniors make up two teams and each person in the team takes a turn at acting something out. It would probably be a good idea to give categories or a hint.

If there are only two people, a senior might enjoy tic tac toe. Even though this game is a child’s game the senior citizen will enjoy someone just interacting with them to take their mind off what they no longer can do.

Senior Citizens probably know all kinds of card games to play. Ask what they like if you have cards and there are only a couple of you. If there is two or more players Texas Hold’em (Poker) seems to be a really popular game right now. That’s when everyone is dealt three cards only they can look at and two cards are turned face up on the table for everyone to play off of. Decide before dealing if you can draw new cards or if you have to keep what your dealt. Then play like regular poker.

Bowling is a really good activity for senior citizens. If your beloved senior can’t handle regular bowling (either because of the standing or the weight of the balls) go to your local store that has toys and purchase a children’s set. Then let the senior citizen play the game by standing, sitting, leaning, or however they can and let them roll the ball at the pins. This is most enjoyable outside with the sun shining.

Senior Citizens still want to be active even when their bodies won’t let them. If you can find games, or make up games for them to keep busy they will be much happier. They may even win. Enjoy spending your time with your beloved senior.