Games For Dementia Patients And Other Helpful Ideas For Dementia Care

Caring for a loved one with dementia can be a difficult task, and dementia caregivers may frequently search for new ways to connect with their patients or loved ones. Games can be one way to provide entertainment and cultivate community between dementia patients and caregivers. They may also sharpen cognitive skills and combat some of the most impactful symptoms of mental decline associated with the condition. Another helpful intervention for those with dementia and their caregivers may be therapy, which can often be attended in person or online for added convenience.

What is dementia?

The word “dementia” generally refers to a distinctive set of symptoms as opposed to one specific illness. As the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services explains, the term can be used to describe “a range of neurological conditions affecting the brain that worsen over time” and result in “the loss of the ability to think, remember, and reason to levels that affect daily life and activities.”

Dementia is often associated with aging, as it tends to be most common in older adults. 

Early-onset and age-related dementia

Dementia symptoms can emerge at any age for a range of reasons, but with people younger than 60 years old, dementia symptoms are often associated with temporary medical conditions that can usually be resolved. These may include brain infections or an unusual accumulation of fluid pressure inside the skull. 

Most forms of progressive, irreversible dementia, like Alzheimer’s disease, occur at ages older than 65, with a few rare and notable exceptions like frontotemporal dementia and Huntington’s disease, which can manifest in a person’s 40s or even their late 30s. 

Common types and causes of dementia

The most common form of dementia is usually Alzheimer’s disease, which is normally caused by the accumulation of certain proteins in the brain, known as amyloid plaques and tau tangles.  The second most common form of dementia is thought to be vascular dementia, which is dementia caused by a cardiovascular event that impacts blood flow to the brain, such as a stroke, a brain hemorrhage, or damaged blood vessels. 

Other well-known forms of dementia include Lewy body dementia, Parkinson’s disease dementia, and mixed dementia, in which a person exhibits signs and symptoms of multiple dementia-causing diseases.  

How dementia games can slow cognitive decline

Games can keep brains stimulated, which can be beneficial for everyone, but especially for older adults and people who may be experiencing mild cognitive impairment or the early stages of dementia. 

Potential benefits of cognitive stimulation and games for dementia patients

It is not completely understood how cognitive stimulation can slow the decline associated with forms of dementia like Alzheimer’s disease, but preliminary research indicates that games and creative activities may:

• Reduce the amount of existing damage to brain cells

• Promote the development and growth of new brain cells

• Enhance communication between brain cells, also known as neurotransmission

Typically, games that involve visual aspects can make the most significant difference for a dementia patient. Social interaction, such as playing games with other people (whether fellow patients or loved ones), may be linked to slower disease progression.

Areas of improvement through cognitive and social stimulation

Improvements connected to cognitive and social stimulation may include the following areas:

• Problem-solving

• Logical reasoning

• Communication

• Short-term memory

• Reaction time

Engaging activities for cognitive and social benefits in people with dementia

Fun activities that have been linked to such improvements include those listed below:

• Card games: Card games can encompass a wide variety of games that may improve a wide range of skills, including memory, reasoning, concentration, and problem-solving. Even for severe dementia patients or those with late-stage dementia, some more basic matching card games, such as Go Fish, can help boost memory. 

• Word games: This genre of games typically focuses specifically on language. They may include letter and word arrangements, like Scrabble and word searches, and word recall, like crossword puzzles. Playing these games can assist with verbal learning, memory, and cognitive speed. Word search games can also help with pattern recognition and vocabulary expansion.

• Jigsaw puzzles: Jigsaw puzzles can help with recall, reasoning, memory, and even hand-eye coordination. There are many kinds of jigsaw puzzles, so this game area can be closely tailored to a patient’s specific skills, abilities, and needs.

• Dice games: Many dice games, like Yahtzee and Liar’s Dice, require numerical and calculation skills, which can decline in dementia patients. Playing with dice can be one way to enhance these areas.

• Video games: Video games can target specific cognitive abilities, like reasoning and memory, but they can also help with visual recognition and attention. When some people hear the phrase “video games,” they may think that a specialized system or console is needed to participate. While that can be true of some games, many games (including those that tend to be more popular with older adults) are available for download on a smartphone.

• Virtual reality (VR) games: VR games can help older people maintain both cognitive and physical abilities. They may also reinforce the connection between the two.

• Sudoku: Sudoku is a number puzzle that can promote problem-solving skills and logical thinking patterns.

• Trivial Pursuit: Not only can Trivial Pursuit improve memory recall, but it often teaches participants new information, which can be one of the most effective ways to combat some dementia symptoms.

• Coloring books: While some may not think of coloring books as a “game,” they can be a form of entertainment that soothes emotional distress, promotes calm, boosts creativity, and enhances fine motor skills.

• Simon Says: Simon Says can be a fun way for dementia patients, especially those with more progressed forms of the condition, to engage their listening and attention skills and potentially enhance motor function. 

Interested in learning about ways to support dementia patients?

An online therapist can answer your questions

Finding additional support for living with dementia or caring for a dementia patient

While games can be a helpful way to mitigate some symptoms of dementia and create a bonding activity for dementia patients and their caregivers, both patients and caregivers will likely need additional support mechanisms. Dementia can take a serious toll on the mental health of both the patient and the people who love and care for them. Talking to a licensed professional counselor can be beneficial in these situations.

Accessibility benefits of online therapy for dementia patients

Dementia can create some barriers to attending in-person therapy sessions, though. Dementia patients may no longer be able to drive safely, and caregivers of dementia patients may be nervous to leave their loved ones alone. Online therapy can bridge the accessibility gap in these instances. With online therapy, a dementia patient or caregiver can attend sessions from the comfort and safety of their own home. 

Effectiveness of online therapy for dementia patients and caregivers

Studies have shown that online therapy may be just as effective as traditional in-person therapy for addressing a variety of mental health concerns, including those more likely to impact dementia patients and caregivers. One group of researchers found that attending a course of online therapy usually reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression for a group of dementia caregivers.