Activities for people with Alzheimer’s that aren’t condescending, child-like (or at least not overtly so), or mind-numbing? Looking for ways to spend time with my whip-smart nana, who is bored in her assisted living facility.

Question

Jess · Answer

Smug Owls: A delightful riddle-making game. Flip over cards to make a riddling question, then each player invents an answer. Best answer collects cards, but we mostly ignore the scoring and just play for riddling fun!

Jennifer · Answer

Magazines: I volunteered once at an elder care facility and used to look through old magazines with some of the residents. It's a great tool! You can page through silently or ask them what they think about a picture/outfit/landscape. Ask a follow up question about what they said.

JaperMoon · Answer

Oil Pastels and a Big Sketchbook: Could be nice to draw together, even just abstract shapes are kinda pleasing to draw with oil pastels or gel crayons.