7 Free Brain Games for Seniors 

Feb 7, 2023
brain games for seniors

Seniors know staying physically fit is essential for successful aging, but the brain needs exercise too. Although researchers are still working on the benefits of brain games for seniors it can’t hurt to challenge that gray matter rather than letting it sit stagnantly. As more and more brain games are developed, the range of choices makes it easy to find some that are fun and stimulating. Here is a list of different types of brain games for seniors to try.

Brain Games for Seniors

#1 Word games

Ever struggle for the right word? Maybe spending a little time with word brain games for seniors might help and there are plenty from which to choose. One of the most popular is Wordle, an online game you can play on a computer or with a phone app, that offers a daily word challenge with multiple chances to deduce what it is.  Other word games like those at wordfinder.yourdictionary.com, let you search for words among a grid of letters and solve cryptograms or for more options check out the aarp.com article, “Games” which includes a wide variety of the ever-popular crossword puzzle.

#2 Number games

It’s easy to lose the ability to do math, but some brain games for seniors may help. One of the best is Sudoku which requires filling a nine-by-nine square grid in a way that each row, column and three-by-three square grid contains all numbers one through nine. For a variety of games involving numbers, another great option is the cokogames.com article, “MATH Games for Adults,” with number games involving fractions, percentages, and even algebra. Also, a great source of number games for seniors to play is the Reader’s Digest article, “30 Math Puzzles (with Answers) to Test Your Smarts.”

#3 Matching games

Another category of brain games for seniors is matching games which might just help keep your memory sharper. A great place to begin is the memozor.com article, “Matching games for seniors – Online and Free (26)” with a variety of simple games for beginners, or the article, “Matching game for seniors – vintage objects – online and free,” which let you time yourself. More challenging matching games can be found at Games 4 Grandma, Crazy Games, and 1001games.com.

#4 Board games

Many seniors have a stockpile of board games stashed away for when the grandkids visit but these old favorites are also great brain games for seniors. For example, Scrabble is always a good way to test your vocabulary, Yahtzee, Chess and Checkers are great for honing strategic thinking, Dominoes is a great stress reducer, and Clue is great for critical, deductive reasoning. If you lack someone to play board games with, try playing online at internetgames365.com which offers everything from Bridge to Backgammon to Monopoly, or try the teambuilding.com article “Free Online Board Games To Play With Friends In 2023,” to have virtual game days with friends and family.

#5 Puzzles

A perennial favorite of humans everywhere is the classic puzzle and they remain among the best brain games for seniors. Today puzzles are available online in a variety of formats from the good old fashioned table-top jigsaw picture puzzles, like those at jigsawexplorer.com and thejigsawpuzzles.com to some pretty challenging options at Baileypuzzles.com designed to help strengthen powers of logic and mechanical thinking. Another fun option is tiling puzzles which can be had by downloading apps from Google Play or the Apple App Store. For those who really want to find a puzzle (or 10) that keeps them on their toes, thelifevirtue.com article, “16 Types of Puzzles – Mysterious, Mind-Boggling, Fun & Romantic” breaks them down into different types and purposes.

#8 Card games

Card games are excellent brain games for seniors and can also provide opportunities to get the socialization seniors need to stay mentally fit. While games played alone like Solitaire are always engaging, playing games from the past like Hearts, Gin Rummy, Spades and Canasta can bring back memories to share and provide hours of fun when played with friends. For a rundown of great card games for seniors, read the anytimegames.com article, “Card Games for Seniors Boost Mental Stimulation and Cognitive Function.”

#7 Games for people with dementia

Older adults with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can also benefit from playing games, not only for mental stimulation but from the social aspect as well. According to the goldencarers.com article, “20+ Games for People Living With Dementia” many games are adaptable and will provide excellent benefits for those with memory problems.

Playing is a big part of aging well and at Ganton’s Countryside we make it easy every day. For more information about Countryside, please call Margaret Nagel at (517) 206-5000 or download our brochure to learn about our care levels, cost, and amenities.

 

assisted living near me

Subscribe to our blog.

Recent Posts

What Services Do Memory Care Communities Provide?

Making the decision to move yourself or a loved one to a memory care community should be a well-informed one. All memory care communities are not created equal, but the best have several things in common. When comparing memory care communities be sure to include the...

How to Talk to Your Parents About Assisted Living

Having a conversation about moving parents to assisted living can go a lot easier when everyone is open-minded, empathetic and has good information about assisted living communities. Today’s modern assisted living communities have come a long way so before sitting...

A Checklist for Independent Living: Is it right for me?

All the changes in senior independent living have made it a much more desirable option for older adults who want to shed the responsibilities of living at home and really make retirement the best it can be. But it’s not for everyone. Before you decide, however, use...

Independent Living Value vs Cost

In general, how much something costs is often considered its value, but when it comes to independent living value, it’s essential to peel back the layers and look deeper into what value really means. When deciding where to live in retirement, at home or in independent...

5 Things to Look for in an Independent Living Community

An independent living community can be the perfect retirement solution when you choose the right senior living community. That’s why it is so important to thoroughly vet your options before making your choice. One of the best ways to do that is by touring independent...

Four Wonderful Things to Expect in an Independent Living Community

Retirement is the time of life to really make every day one to remember, whether it’s traveling, revisiting an old hobby, relaxing at home with friends and family, writing a book, or taking classes just to learn something new. All those things you never had time for...

What Is Independent Living?

Retirement brings with it many decisions, not the least of which is where to live. For many older adults, independent living is the perfect choice because it has all the benefits of a home without all the costs and hassles of home ownership. But others may not...

Share This