A healthy mind lives in a healthy body. Mental and physical agility in the elderly is a good sign, and both physical and mental exercise is needed to maintain that. An activity that can trigger brain cells to replicate is enough if it is conducted for 10-15 minutes daily. 

Mental activity helps in sharpening thinking, reasoning, cognitive skills, memory, and motor skills. Scientists believe that older people can delay problems associated with senility by 14 years if they stay mentally fit. 

Older people become very child-like as their age grows. So, it is fun to play with them. Here is a list of some games that they may like: –

Card Games

Card games like Rummy, Blackjack, Poker, Solitaire, Pinochle, etc., are very famous among the elderly. You can improvise the games also. They come in different variations according to the demography. Hardcore gambling lifts up their spirits, but it is very risky to take them to one given the looming dread of COIVD-19. Worry not! If they cannot go to the casino, the casino can come to them at https://www.slotsformoney.com/casinos/blackjack/.

Chess

Chess with afternoon snacks is delightful. It involves making strategies and logic. The players need to understand the strategy that their opponent is taking and plan their moves accordingly. It has many variations. The classic board of chess can make them feel invigorated. Playing chess increases brain function, improves memory, focus, and promotes creativity. 

Monopoly

Working at home in this pandemic has posed a new challenge for people living with their old parents who need constant attention. If you have children, your problem got magnified many times. Monopoly is one of the best games to keep the older and younger generation busy while you work. The players use logic and game to become landowners. The classic game has been modified and comes with 300 versions. Roald Dahl illustrated version would give you the best of both generations. 

Scattegories

Seniors can get bored if a game takes too long to finish. A letter is drawn at random, and players should name something for filling each category that includes animals, countries, names, flowers, cities, etc. Each player has to name one thing, starting with the letter drawn before all the other players to win a point. The person who completes first most of the time in the end wins. 

The game becomes tricky when a letter like Q or X is drawn. This game is apt for elders who have been good travellers. 

Cranium for drama lovers

Cranium is good for grandparents who live a life less seriously. The game allows the elderly to use their mind as well as do some physical activity. Players need to act and portray like in dumb charades, hum a tune, draw, decipher correct spellings, or answer general trivia. 

Dixit for art and literature lovers

Dixit is all about expressing. If your grandparents are suave storytellers, they are going to win this game for sure. The performing player has to explain an illustrated card from the game that is laid out in front of all the players. The other players have to guess. Here is the trick. The storyteller gets nothing if everyone guesses correctly or no one guesses it right. So, it all comes down to balance the revealing and sneaking part. 

Solitaire Marble for the ones who play solo

You need not have any partner for this game. Generally, older people like calm and unexciting things as their age commences. It is simple to play, and since the player is one, there is no chance of getting cheated. All you have to do is to move one marble over the other to go on a blank spot and remove the marble that you overtook. You win if there is only one marble left. 

Puzzles

Puzzles can be of great use too. It can be a regular jigsaw puzzle, sudoku or Dominoes. These games can be played solo or with a partner. By applying the brain to fit the lost pieces makes the elderly check on shapes and sizes. Newspapers are a perennial source of puzzles, but they should have the version that your elder is looking for. 

Advantages of playing games for elderly

Here are some advantages of keeping the brain active in the older population:-

  • Mental exercise boosts memory and helps improve cognition for preventing dementia
  • It helps them to take their mind of problems
  • Playing and socialising decreases their chances of developing mental problems
  • It increases attention to detail and improves concentration
  • The brain creates new cells by learning new skills
  • Helps in bridging the gap with intergenerational fun activities

People become vulnerable to Dementia, Alzheimer, and Insomnia as they grow older. Playing games can keep the grey cells in working condition to keep these psychological problems at a hand’s distance.