Games and Puzzles

Engaging in games and puzzles can be enjoyable and support a daily routine while stimulating and challenging the person with dementia. You may already have a selection of board games, puzzles and cards in your home. These may still be suitable and the person may only need some support playing. Please be mindful that some of the games mentioned may no longer be appropriate for someone with advancing dementia. Some of the challenges in games can be good for stimulation yet some may be too difficult and could cause disappointment and frustration and may lead to feelings of low self-esteem. Some things to be considerate of are games that require strategic planning and are time pressure. Some companies have created familiar games considering these challenges and have made adapted versions. Some ideas are given below:

Stimulating and Engaging Games and Puzzles

Jigsaws

Jigsaws are an enjoyable activity once at an appropriate level! A 1000-piece jigsaw may be too difficult to identify and organise, so ensure you have a size suitable. Jigsaws are a mental stimulation game that can improve feelings of well-being and increase satisfaction and achievement. Jigsaws can also promote communication and can support people who may be restless or anxious. Overall feel-good and meditative effect can also be achieved through completing a jigsaw. Some jigsaws you already have may be suitable however if not Active Minds have created jigsaws for people with dementia, please see some of these below

Active Minds puzzles have been carefully designed to offer opportunities for reminiscing and can help to keep minds and muscles stimulated. They offer a range of four different difficulties so there will be something for all abilities and interests.
Jigsaws can be gotten 13, 24, 35 or 64 pieces and are age appropriate pictures aiming to evoke happy memories and enjoyable stimulation.
To view a demonstration video please click here
These jigsaws can be purchased at the following links:
- Active Minds - www.active-minds.org
- Murrays - www.murrays.ie
- JS Dobbs - www.jsdobbs.ie
- Alzproducts - www.alzproducts.co.uk
- Home Care Medical - www.homecaremedicalsupplies.ie

Personalised Jigsaws

Create your own jigsaw with an image that is meaningful to you and your loved one
Active Minds provides a range of 3 personalised jigsaw puzzles specially developed for people with dementia. By providing a personal image of family, friends, pets or wedding for example, Active Minds is able to produce a jigsaw tailored to the individual. A uniquely personal gift and a powerful reminiscence activity that stimulates conversation time and time again.
Photographs should be between 1MB and 5MB.
To view their webpage on personalised jigsaws please click here

Board Games

Board games are a great activity that can involve the whole family. Some board games you have may still be appropriate to play, some may be too challenging for the person with dementia. Simple board games have been created for people with memory problems such as Snakes and Ladders and Ludo. See ideas below

Snakes and Ladders – a familiar game to so many from their childhood. This game may become challenging for a person with dementia, and they may need support playing or there are simplified versions created by Active-Minds which have a board less busy and easier to follow. These also have stronger colour contrasts which make it easy to identify
To view a video demonstration on this please click here
The Active Minds Snakes and Ladder board game can be purchased at the following links
- Active Minds - www.active-minds.org
- Murrays - www.murrays.ie
- Alzproducts - www.alzproducts.co.uk

Ludo

Another familiar game to many, so likely more successful when completing.
The adapted versions of the game have good colour contrast for people with cognitive and visual impairments
and include cards with numbers instead of the dice for those who may find it difficult to roll and read the dice
The Active Minds Snakes and Ladder board game can be purchased at the following links
- Active Minds - www.active-minds.org
- Murrays - www.murrays.ie
- Alzproducts - www.alzproducts.co.uk

Draughts

This may be a board game suitable for playing and one you may already have in your home
If familiar it will be easier to engage with however it might be challenging for some people
Good colour contrast supports playing
These can be purchased in many game stores and some stationary/book stores or at www.activitiestoshare.co.uk

Call to Mind Board Game

Call to Mind is a communication board game that encourages and stimulates conversation.
Select a card with questions on a topic to discover more about the person
This board game has been designed for people with dementia
It can be used in nursing homes to learn more about the person or can be used at home with family
You can view an information video on Call to Mind board game here
This game can be purchased at the following websites
- Call to Mind - www.call-to-mind.com
- Alzproducts - www.alzproducts.co.uk
- Activities to Share - www.activitiestoshare.co.uk

Connect 4

though not a board game it might be something you have already in your home
If familiar this game might be still enjoyed
As with group games it will encourage communication and enjoyment
Connect 4 has good colour contrast, and challenges the person playing in planning and sequencing
These games can be bought in games stores and some stationary or book stores some links can be found below
- Easons - www.easons.com
- Smyth's Toy Store - www.smythstoys.com

Dominoes

Dominoes may still be an enjoyable game for some people with dementia
It can be challenging and requires focus and attention
Large print options are available and some with colours to make matching easier
Please find these adapted versions at the following websites
- Home Care Medical - www.homecaremedicalsupplies.ie
- Activities to Share - www.activitiestoshare.co.uk

Card Games

There are so many card games to play with different degrees of ability required. For people with visual and cognitive impairments there are clear large cards for players, as well as card holders for people who have arthritis or simply need support viewing their cards. Think of games you've played and consider some of the following games you and your family might enjoy, but remember they may not be suitable for all.

Old Maid – as this may be a familiar game from childhood it will be easier to play and recall. The aim is not to be the person with the last card in play, the queen!
Beggar My Neighbour – this game will be good for someone who has previously played it in their past, you may need to run through the game to remind how to play
Snap – this is a fast paced game so may not be suitable for all, however it is familiar and participation can still be achieved
Matching Games – not using traditional cards rather cards with images, facing the cards down and turning two hoping to match. For people with dementia it can be adapted by reducing the number of cards in play

Large Print Cards

People may find it challenging to engage in playing cards due to visual impairments
Large playing cards are clearer and can support people with visual problems
This can be purchased in some local games and stationary stores or on the following websites
- National Council for the Blind Ireland - www.ncbi.ie
- Activities to Share - www.activitiestoshare.co.uk

Card Holder

A simple solution to manage a full hand of cards
Allowing players to see all their cards either handheld or stood on the table.
Supportive for people with Arthritis
You can purchase these in a some local games and stationary stores or on the following websites
- Activities to Share - www.activitiestoshare.co.uk
- Home Care Medical - www.homecaremedicalsupplies.ie

Animal Snap

Image Snap is a set of 36 cards which can be grouped together into different families.
The pack includes three games of different difficulty levels: Snap, Pairs and Full House. The aim of each game is to match families of cards, e.g. Snap requires the player to match two cards from the same family.
The cards have all be designed with high colour contrast and easily recognisable images that support people with dementia to play each game without assistance.
The three different difficulty levels ensure this game is suitable for people with early or mid stage dementia.
These can be purchased at the following links
- Murrays - www.murrays.ie
- Active Minds - www.active-minds.org

Puzzles

Word puzzles are a great way to stimulate and work out the brain, there are simple puzzles available for free on download or books of simple puzzles that can be purchased. You may need to engage with the person with dementia in completing the puzzle e.g. call out the clue, give time to the person and maybe add an extra clue to help them find the answer. See puzzle ideas below

Crosswords

Crosswords may become challenging, however simple support from by playing twith the person can be helpful
Try to find the right fit so the person can have a chance at getting the answers correctly.
Where necessary ask the clue and add a clue if needed.
Simple and themed versions are available for download at the following website
- Daily Caring - www.dailycaring.com

Word Searches

Word searches are good to challenge and help with focus and attention
There are adapted versions available - large print, and no diagonal or backwards answers (these may be difficult for some people)
You can find adapted and themed versions available for download please see
- Keeping Busy - www.keepingbusy.com

Finishing Lines

Finishing Lines is a book full of familiar and famous sayings, quotes, titles of films and musicals, proverbs with blanks for the person to fill in
Example call out the following saying: it’s raining cats and ___________ or you’re the apple of my ________.
This is a nice engaging activity and these sayings are often easy to recall
The activity can promote enjoyment and achievement
If you don't have the book you could create your own or to buy click on website
- Mind Start - www.mind-start.com