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Games such as crossword puzzles, cards, puzzles, and bingo can help people with dementia improve mental functioning and delay the condition. Sudoku and chess also improve brain power, while card games test concentration and math skills. The severity of dementia determines the puzzle difficulty.
Games, including crossword puzzles, cards and puzzles, are activities that can be helpful for people with dementia. Often occurring in the elderly, dementia is a condition that affects a person’s mental functioning. Not simply a normal part of aging, dementia causes an individual to become disoriented, which hampers daily life. Keeping mentally active can increase vitality and boost brain cells. Many games for dementia patients can temporarily delay or dissipate the condition while keeping people focused.
Crossword puzzles and other word games can keep dementia patients occupied for hours. The puzzles found daily in the newspaper challenge people to remember trivia and dates and at the same time test their vocabulary. Dementia patients don’t always have to rely on the riddles found in the newspapers. Even crossword puzzles with a theme geared towards a person’s interests can keep an individual active and mentally sharp.
Similar to crossword puzzles, sudoku improves a person’s brain power. However, instead of challenging one’s vocabulary, Sudoku is a popular number placement puzzle that combines math skills with logical thinking. Like crossword puzzles, Sudoku varies in skill levels.
Cards are games that even dementia patients can play. Playing cards can help dementia patients as the games require concentration, logic and simple math skills. Card games also test a dementia patient’s ability to sort and match. Some easy-to-play card games include War, Old Maid, Solitaire, and Crazy Eight. Card games that require higher levels of thinking include cribbage, bridge and hearts.
Puzzles are also useful games for dementia patients. Puzzles are an activity that requires people to assemble shapes to form a picture. Putting the pieces together requires dexterity, logic and coordination. The severity of a person’s dementia will determine how many pieces they can handle.
Bingo is a popular game for seniors with and without dementia. For people with dementia, bingo is an easy game to play, as it is played at a relatively slow pace and the numbers are often repeated. Bingo helps dementia patients with their concentration and ability to recognize numbers. Additionally, the game can be played with many people, providing a social outlet.
Games for dementia patients can also include dominoes, checkers and chess. These popular games require individuals to use tactical thinking. Depending on a person’s level of dementia, chess may not be an option due to the complexity of the rules.
