Enjoyable games for old people

Games for older adults

Games can be a source of enjoyment and fun for any age group, and in particular for older adults. There are many variations of games that can be played by people of any age, mental ability and physical ability, and all preferences can be catered for. Here, we are exploring the benefits of games for older adults, types of games that provide physical exercise, mental stimulation or social experiences, and how families and caregivers can help organise games for older people based on their abilities.At Home Instead, our aim is to help people age positively and in place by bringing expert care to their home. For nearly 20 years, we have been providing the highest standard of care, and creating industry-leading training programmes for our Care Professionals that are accredited by nursing and medical professionals. Today, we are the world’s largest global domiciliary care network, supporting over 100,000 older adults with personalised, tailored care at home. So whatever questions you have about games for older adults, we can help. 

What games could be enjoyable for older adults? 

There are many different types of games that older people may benefit from. Even if an older relative cannot focus on a particular activity, this does not mean they find all games frustrating, so it is important to try out different options to find games suitable for their abilities and interests. Some examples include: 

Board Games

Board games are a broad category, as there are so many types that rely on various skills to complete or win. Whether you need to work together as a team, strategise against other players, or keep a ‘poker face’ to avoid revealing your plans, board games use many skills. One studyfound certain interactive board games helped to enhance mobility, cognitive performance and balance in older subjects, and also decreased fall risk. A few board games older people may enjoy or find beneficial include things like chess or checkers, which both require logic, focus, forward-thinking, memory and strategy. Monopoly can be a fun game that simulates acquiring properties around a specific city, and with so many versions available to buy, this can also be a way to foster conversations about places an older relative may have travelled to. One 2019 study on board games like Monopoly and chess found they could help reduce cognitive decline in older people aged 70-79.Another option is Cranium, which has multiple challenges and can be a fun family game for events like birthdays and Christmas. This involves puzzle solving, acting, guessing, sketching and other skills, so while it is a board game, it also encourages creativity and lots of laughs. 

Word and Number Games 

Word-based games or games involving numbers can be a great way to stay sharp when you get older, and doing these on a regular basis can lead to significant cognitive benefits including better memory, focus, language skills and problem-solving. They may require critical thinking, general knowledge or pattern recognition. In one 2014 study, subjects who did crossword puzzles ended up delaying memory issues by around 2.5 years. Many word and number games can be played solo to keep older adults entertained throughout the day without the need for other game players. These can be mindful activities which can be done in silence to reduce stress and improve wellbeing. Completing something like a sudoku or a crossword puzzle can bring a great sense of accomplishment, which can have excellent self-esteem and confidence-boosting benefits. Some word games to consider include classics like Scrabble, which involves scoring words based on their letters, and crossword puzzles, which can help keep language and general knowledge sharp. Hangman is another fun brain-teaser that improves language skills by having someone guess missing letters to make up a word. All of these can be adapted to be done alone or with others for added social enjoyment. For family game nights, Articulate is a fun option involving working in teams to describe words on cards within a short time frame. Players must describe the word without saying it, which can be challenging and also induce a few giggles along the way. When it comes to number games, things like sudoku can be enjoyable and help to improve focus, mathematical skills and problem-solving by finding the number combinations that belong in boxes together. Dominos requires similar strategic thinking and pattern recognition to match numbered tiles together. For a family-friendly board game based on probability, Battleships is an old favourite for many people, and is fun for all ages. This involves players hiding where on the board their ship is, and the opposing player guessing where on the board their ship may be by ruling out previous guesses. This is a great game that uses memory skills. 

Card Games 

A 2022 study found playing card games such as Bridge or Go Fish correlated with better cognitive function in older adults, so doing this on a regular basis could prove beneficial. Card games are also fun to play with friends, offering a social element that improves feelings of loneliness, and it is usually inexpensive to purchase a deck of cards that can be used to play a variety of games. For those with vision problems, large decks can also be found.Some options older adults may like include those mentioned above, as well as Gin Rummy, which involves organising cards before an opponent does, Uno, which involves matching cards together, and Solitaire. There are multiple versions of Solitaire, and many can be played either alone or with others.

Puzzle Games

Puzzle games are anything that involves arranging things in the correct order or finding a solution, and there are numerous versions of these games. They are beneficial for older adults as they tend to support cognition, memory and problem-solving skills. In a2022 study, subjects found working on puzzles helped exercise their mind, but also led to them experiencing emotional and social benefits.Puzzles are known to be relaxing and stress-relieving for many people, so they can help to support the wellbeing of older adults. Some variations of this might include classic jigsaw puzzles that involve arranging pieces in the correct order to create a picture. This can be done alone or in a group to socialise. Another type of puzzle game might be something like Cluedo, a classic board game involving players working their way through puzzling clues to solve a murder mystery. As this game has been around since the 1940s, older adults may already be familiar with how to play it and feel confident in their abilities. 

Digital, App-Based or Video Games

While many digital, app-based or video games are usually associated with younger age groups like teenagers, research is finding more older people are playing these too. One study found video games have grown in popularity with older people, and another study discovered gamers aged 65+ are thought to play more often than any other age group – 36% reported playing every day or almost every day.Many of the games mentioned above are also available as computer game versions, such as online Scrabble or online chess. Choosing an appropriate video game for an older adult may involve having a conversation with them to see which kinds of games they enjoy, such as target-based games, pattern-recognition games, or online puzzles. Sometimes older adults could struggle to master controls when it comes to video games, but with some practice these games could help to improve their focus, hand-eye coordination and dexterity. Some types of games can also be played online with others, offering a fun way to connect with faraway relatives. 

Dice Games 

Dice games are exactly what they sound like; games of chance involving rolling a dice to determine an outcome. Older adults can experience several benefits from these, such as excitement at the possibilities of where the dice will land. Depending on the type of game, they may also experience cognitive stimulation and social benefits, and the act of rolling the dice is a way to enhance motor skills and hand-eye coordination. One popular dice-roll game is Yahtzee, which can help to foster number skills, and also offers the option of social interaction to keep loneliness and isolation at bay. Yahtzee involves players taking turns to roll five dice, with the highest scoring combination winning. Another popular option is Mahjong. One 2020 study found playing Mahjong for 12 weeks could benefit older adults who experience mild cognitive impairments, so this could be a helpful game to incorporate into an older loved one’s schedule. 

Social and Group Games

The importance of social and group games cannot be overstated for older adults who experience loneliness or isolation. By getting a group of people together, whether a group of friends of a similar age, attending an organised event outside of the home, or having the family over for a game night, older adults can experience the emotional benefits of spending time with others and doing an enjoyable activity together. There are a number of game options for groups, such as charades, trivia, bingo, or jenga. All of these games can provide some of the aforementioned benefits while also being more enjoyable when done with friends or family, offering a chance for connection. Studies find friendships are thought to be connected to higher levels of happiness and satisfaction for older adults, so playing these games with friends could compound their benefits. If you would like to learn ways to be more social, you can read about this in our guide on how to make friends in your 50s and older.Or, if you suspect your older loved one may be experiencing loneliness, you can learn more about what to do in our guide to the signs of loneliness in the elderly.

Memory Games 

Keeping the memory sharp can be helpful for older adults, and studies support this; one 2019 study involving older adults who engaged in 16 weeks of combined physical and cognitive training (named “exergame” training) experienced a significant improvement in their working memory and executive function.Games that could help with this include things like card matching, where players put cards face-down on a surface and attempt to match pairs. Another option is a trivia-based game relying on general knowledge and memory. This could be a fun pub quiz, or something more specific such as naming the flags of countries. For those in the early stages of a dementia condition, you may find helpful suggestions in our list of great games for dementia patients.

Physical Games

Physical exercise is just as important for older adults as it is for younger age groups, so gamifying this can be a fun way to encourage movement without an older person feeling like they are working out, if this is something they tend to resist. Physical games can offer social opportunities too, as well as benefits from being outdoors if the weather is nice. Some examples of physical games older adults could try include things like lawn bowls, pickleball (a less intense version of tennis), badminton, skittles or golf. By organising regular physical games, older adults can benefit from time spent in nature, fresh air, gentle exercise, time with friends, and more.If exercise is the goal, you can learn more about this in our guide to fitness and exercise for the elderly.

How can home care facilitate game play for older adults?

Home care is around to help make the lives of older adults easier and more enjoyable, so if playing games could provide enjoyment or benefits, then there are a number of ways professional caregivers can help with this, for example:

• Providing companionship in the form of a second player for two-player games
• Providing transportation to local gaming events at libraries, senior centres and more
• Assisting with technology if they want to play video games or computer games  
• Encouraging participation in games if they are feeling withdrawn or isolated 
• Providing ad-hoc companionship in the form of sitting services to play games
• Offering mobility support if they would like to take part in physical games such as golf  
• Helping to organise activities in the person’s home if they want to have friends over 
• Helping facilitate game-play; game set-up, rearranging furniture, simplifying rules, etc
• Understanding their physical and cognitive abilities and limitations, and adapting games with this in mind 

If you or a loved one is experiencing loneliness and would like to arrange more hobbies and activities, our friendly, supportive Care Professionals can help to ease these feelings by facilitating inclusive game play. From general companionship and mobility care to complex care and home help, whatever support you need, you can reach out to your local Home Instead office to discuss your options.We’re an award-winning home care provider and part of a worldwide organisation devoted to providing the highest-quality relationship-led care for older people in their own homes. Arranging care for yourself or your loved one shouldn’t be stressful, so whatever questions you would like answered, feel free to reach out to the Home Instead team to discuss your needs.