To maintain your independence and live comfortably at home, you know it’s important to stay active and exercise your body. But studies show it’s just as important to exercise your brain. And here’s a piece of good news: Brain exercises are the most fun “workout” you’ll do this week.
Give your mind a daily workout by performing brain exercises for seniors. Jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, board games, and other brain games for seniors are not only fun — they can keep your mind sharp as you age.
A fun, daily challenge for the mind — such as memory games or problem-solving techniques — is essential to brain health. In fact, the National Institute on Aging states doing games, crafts, or using the computer (or smartphone) can decrease your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease or dementia.
Below, we share four brain games for seniors you can do on your own, on your computer, or with a loved one.
Please note: Below, we share many sites where you can play games online. When playing games with strangers, be sure not to disclose any personal information — even if it seems harmless.
4 Brain Games for Seniors You'll Love Doing
Grab a mug of coffee or hot tea, cozy up on the couch, and try one of these brain games for seniors. From card games, online classes, new hobbies, and sudoku puzzles, these brain-training games are a fun way to combat memory loss.
1. Word Games
Word games like word searches, the daily crossword, and a simple game of Scrabble can help stretch your cognitive skills. These fun activities force you to work on word retrieval, which can become more difficult as you age.
The inability to retrieve words — or those "it's just on the tip of my tongue!" moments so many of us experience — can be an early sign of dementia. However, performing these word games (either on your own or with a friend) can help strengthen word retrieval.
Here are a few websites, books, and other resources where you can find word games:
Words with Friends: Words With Friends is an app that takes the classic Scrabble game straight to your smartphone. You can download the app for free on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Daily crossword: You can find the daily crossword in your newspaper or online. For example, some publications, like USA Today and the Washington Post, post their crosswords for free online. But if you prefer pen and paper, you can always subscribe to the print editions or print them at home.
Word searches: You can order a book of word searches online, on Amazon, or print them from websites. On TheWordSearch.com, you'll find limitless word searches based on science, celebrities, music, and other subjects.
Puzzle books: You can easily order a puzzle book online to stretch your creative-thinking skills. Choose from crosswords, Sudoku, Word Roundup, Hidato, and other logic puzzles to keep your brain fit.
2. Card Games
Card games are scientifically proven to help stretch your brainpower. You can play individual card games like solitaire on the computer or with friends. Playing with a friend has a few added health benefits.
According to a study conducted by the Frontiers in Psychology, playing card games with friends has a two-fold effect. First, the process of actually playing card games is an effective cognitive training method. Second, social interaction is also shown to stimulate brain cells as well.
Here are a few ways you can play card games with friends — even if you're not sitting in the same room together.
Set up a Zoom call: Zoom is a video chat software that allows you to connect with friends all over the world. Zoom offers free plans for calls up to 40 minutes, and you can invite multiple friends to your virtual card night.
CardzMania: On CardzMania, you can play 30 different card games with a group of up to 20 people. The site has no annoying ads or pop-ups, and you don't need a flash player to start dealing.
TableTopia: TableTopia is an interactive site where you and your friends can play card games, popular board games, and other fun activities. Once you create a free account, you can invite up to eight friends to play together online. Or, if you don't feel like planning a card party, simply login to play with other people across the internet.
3. Trivia Games
Trivia is a great way for people of all ages to stretch their brains. While trivia questions may seem like rather silly or useless information on the surface, answering them forces you to recall information from parts of your brain you don't often use.
You can check with your local library, community organizations, retirement community, or even the local pub to see if they offer trivia night. Or, you can enjoy a trivia night in with the following online resources:
Houseparty: Houseparty is an app that offers a way to enjoy a social outing (er, inning?) with friends from the comfort of your living room. Like Zoom for your smartphone, Houseparty offers a number of games — including trivia — to play with friends straight from the app.
Random Trivia Generator: Even if you can't organize a trivia game night with friends, you can play on your own. This website generates random brain teasers for you, so you can play anytime.
Let's Roam: Let's Roam creates virtual game nights — including trivia nights — for you and your friends. You can choose from different categories, easily send invites, and select different options such as 21+ or kid-friendly.
4. Crafts and Classes
Starting a new hobby is a great way to develop new skills, enhance your hand-eye coordination, and stretch your brain.
While it doesn't sound like a "game," older adults can enhance their physical and mental health by picking up a new craft or taking a class. Check bulletin boards at the libraries, coffee shops, and community centers in your neighborhood to see if residents are offering new classes. In addition, you might find local Facebook groups where people offer new classes.
You can also pick up a new hobby or take classes online. Here are a few ideas:
Udemy: Udemy is a reputable website where people of all ages take classes on...well, everything. Free and paid-for classes extend to new hobbies, including knitting, photography, and gardening.
We Craft Box: We Craft Box is a subscription service developed exclusively for seniors. Each month, you'll receive a new box filled with arts, crafts, and other fun games.
YouTube: If you're looking to develop any new skill, YouTube is a great resource. You can use it to take yoga, learn a new recipe, or learn how to set up a Zoom call with friends.
Try Brain Games for Seniors To Keep Your Mind Sharp
Science shows that performing brain games like crosswords, puzzles, trivia, and card games can help prevent cognitive decline. Plus, they're fun to do on your own or with a friend.
There are plenty of smartphone apps and websites that allow you to interact with friends from the comfort of your own home. Apps including Words With Friends, House Party, and YouTube allow you to play games, stay social, or even learn a new skill.
When you download a new game or brain training app, take the time to download the Snug app on your phone. Like playing brain games, Snug is a tool to help you maintain your independence while living alone.
Each day, you'll do a daily check-in to let your emergency contact know you're safe and sound (if they sign-up for notifications). If you miss a check-in, we'll have someone come look in on you.