5 Best Games for Dementia Patients to Improve Memory and Focus

Since dementia slowly robs a person of their memory and cognitive abilities, it has a tremendous impact on every aspect of their life. Caring for someone with dementia means more than just managing their daily routine –  it is also about finding ways to keep their mind active and spirits lifted. Dementia affects the person’s memory, focus, and decision-making skills, but certain brain-stimulating activities can help slow down cognitive decline. One effective method is using games for dementia patients. Simple, engaging games stimulate the brain, promote social interactions, and even reduce anxiety. 

Whether you are a family caregiver or considering home healthcare services, this list of the best games for dementia patients can help you support your loved one in a meaningful and enriching way.

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Why Games Matter in Dementia Care

Mental stimulation is just as important as physical activity for people with dementia. Games can help with memory recall, sharpen focus, slow down cognitive decline, reduce feelings of isolation or depression, and improve mood.

Simple games for dementia patients are also ideal for maintaining routines and encouraging daily interactions with others. Whether they play word puzzles or card games, even a few minutes of such activities each day can have lasting medical and emotional benefits.

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Top 5 Games for Dementia Patients

These five games are carefully selected to support memory, attention, and emotional well-being. Each one is simple, enjoyable, and adaptable to different stages of dementia.

1. Jigsaw Puzzles

Jigsaw puzzles are a timeless option that encourages concentration, shape recognition, and patience. 

They are inexpensive, great for early and moderate stages of dementia, and can be enjoyed virtually anywhere, solo or with a caregiver. There is no need for:

• Technical devices
• Language ability
• Prior knowledge

Benefits:

• Boosts hand-eye coordination
• Promotes problem-solving
• Offers a calming, focused activity
• Rewards with a sense of achievement

A study published in Frontiers of Aging Neuroscience linked long-term jigsaw puzzle use with “healthy aging“.

Care Tip: Choose puzzles with large pieces (24 to 48 pieces) and bright, clear images. Themes like animals, flowers, or favorite places often trigger memories and lead to conversations.

2. Card Games

Card games are great for practicing and preserving skills such as concentration, memory, reasoning, and problem-solving. They are inexpensive, take up little room, and are so portable that they can be carried in a pocket. Games can be played alone or with others.

Their biggest advantage is their versatility – there are hundreds of games for dementia patients to choose from just using an ordinary deck of playing cards. There are also many specialty card games. The type of game should be aligned with the person’s cognitive level.

Benefits:

• Improves short-term memory
• Strengthens visual attention
• Encourages gentle competition or collaboration

Care Tip: Use fewer cards to simplify the game. You can even create custom sets using family photos for a personal touch. While simple games like Old Maid, Go Fish, Solitaire, or memory-matching games should be fine, avoid games that involve bluffing or deception, such as Poker.

3. Board Games

There are many suitable board games for dementia patients at every stage of the condition. Board games promote social interaction, attention, and concentration. Playing certain board games may help slow specific areas of cognitive decline – Scrabble for verbal memory, Yahtzee for counting, etc.

Playing familiar board games from childhood or from happy times with family can trigger memories. 

Benefits:

• Enhances concentration, attention, and interaction with others.
• Can lead to reminiscing and the sharing of memories.
• Games are associated with positive and familiar memories.
• Multiple loved ones can participate.

Care Tip: Match the game with the dementia patient’s current cognitive ability. Avoid board games with complicated rules and the ones that are too competitive. While games like chess, mahjong, or Scrabble might be appropriate during the early stages, as the disease progresses, simpler games like Candyland or Chutes and Ladders may be more appropriate.

4. Word Searches and Crossword Puzzles

Language-based games are wonderful tools for maintaining vocabulary and cognitive function. For example, a University of Cambridge study found that playing crossword puzzles delayed accelerated memory decline by around 2.5 years.

These mentally-stimulating games are inexpensive and available in several formats: in newspapers and magazines, online, and printable downloads. 

Whether on paper or in digital form, word games for dementia patients offer essential mental stimulation and a sense of accomplishment.

Benefits:

• Encourages word recognition and recall
• Promotes independent thinking
• The familiar format reduces anxiety

Care Tip: Choose easy-to-read puzzles with larger fonts. Start with simple words or common categories to build confidence and comfort. Match the difficulty level with their cognitive ability.

5. Video Games

Recent research indicates that playing video games helps fight dementia.  There are hundreds of video game titles available on different consoles, handheld systems, computers, tablets, and smartphones. You can even find many free games for dementia patients online. The difficulty can be adjusted to the player’s abilities.

It is also a great way for younger family members to spend rewarding time with their elderly loved ones doing something they both enjoy.

Benefits:

• Engaging visuals and sounds
• Stimulates the area of the brain associated with learning and memory
• Promotes social engagement with others 

Care Tip: Avoid violent or scary content. Monitor the player for overstimulation from sounds or from flashing lights. Adjust difficulty levels or switch to another game as needed.

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Tips for Choosing the Right Game

When selecting games for dementia patients, consider the following:

• Start with a simple game: Choose activities that match the person’s cognitive abilities and stage or condition.
• Look for familiar formats: Games with familiar themes or rules reduce frustration.
• Prioritize enjoyment: It is not about winning the game – it is about mental stimulation. This cannot be emphasized enough.

If you are unsure about where to begin, start with something you know your loved one used to enjoy, then adapt it to fit their current needs.

How Nurse Next Door Can Help

The compassionate caregivers at Nurse Next Door go beyond monitoring the physical safety and health of your loved one with dementia – they also look after their mental and emotional well-being.

That duty includes helping your loved one engage in healthy activities that slow the progression of the disease so they can enjoy the highest quality of life for as long as possible. Our caregivers provide the following personalized services to make sure your loved one can make the most of games for dementia: 

• Working with the patient and your family to find stage-appropriate games and activities to stimulate their brain and preserve their cognitive abilities.
• Developing a recreational routine
• Guiding their play to maximize enjoyment and engagement
• Participating, providing companionship, and including other family members
• Monitoring the patient’s moods, cognition, and symptoms
• Making adjustments to the routine as needed 

Conclusion

Unfortunately, there is no cure for dementia. It is a progressive disease that cannot be reversed. However, engaging in mentally stimulating activities significantly slows the progression of this disease. Games for dementia patients not only enhance cognitive function but also help restore joy and confidence in a safe and supportive way. They can greatly improve the quality of life for those living with dementia.

Try one of these simple, fun games today and watch how it brings smiles, conversations, and meaningful engagement back into your loved one’s life. Explore Nurse Next Door’s in-home Alzheimer’s and dementia care services to bring your loved one the right mix of mental stimulation, emotional support, and daily care. Contact us today.