Games are a fun way to engage our dear friends in something they can enjoy. As Lady-Links, we realize that certain considerations regarding how we play the game can help our dear friends be successful, so that’s what we do.
1. Play games they played before. Don’t introduce a new game because it can be very frustrating, sometimes even impossible, for someone with cognitive decline to learn something new. Most of the time the procedures and rules associated with the chosen game will be familiar since it was played earlier in their lives, and our dear friends quickly become actively involved.
2. Modify the game as needed, but keep the integrity of the game as it was designed. For example, we don’t set a time limit on a player’s turn.
3. Play in partners. This “team approach” takes away the stress of making decisions and allows for a more enjoyable activity.
4. Play at a slower pace. We watch for signs of disinterest. In those cases we take a break to engage in conversation, especially about things that relate to games and our childhood. We’ve shared stories of games we played as children and games our mothers or grandmothers taught us.
5. Take away the competitive nature of the game. Yes, we have a winner (whoever goes out first), but we don’t keep score.
6. Have fun! That’s the whole purpose….to engage our dear friends in activities they enjoy!
Our dear friends are very successful at the games we play since we base our choices on their current abilities and their former interests. Games are a great way to engage in activities that provide opportunities for cognitive stimulation, conversation and fun!
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