Fun Games for Senior Citizens

Here are some great games for senior citizens to play! These are all group games that stimulate the mind while creating a lot of fun at the same time!

In Grandma's Handbag (a memory game)
No age limitation, No physical limitation

In this game, everyone sits in a circle. The first person to begin (it can be anyone!) says, "I looked in grandma's handbag and I found... insert a word here - i.e. an apple. The next person says, "I looked in grandma's handbag and I found... an apple and a cookie. And so on. The point is to remember the list and to add your own at the end. Each time a person forgets an item, the last person wins a prize (money, an extra snack, whatever!) and the game starts over.

Horse Race
No age limitation, Must be able to toss light plastic die

Items Needed:
one large plastic die
two wooden horses on a pole (with a base, in order to stand unassisted), numbered (i.e. #1 and #2)
one long sheet of paper with spaces marked 1-20 (horse track)
scrap paper (betting slips)

In this game, arrange two rows of chairs facing one another. Leave enough space in the middle for the horse track! Have everyone place a bet on which horse will win and write their bet on their scrap piece of paper. Have each person take turns tossing the die. Whatever number the die lands on is the number of spaces the horse will move. Horses take turn. Whoever betted on the horse that wins gets the prize! It can be money, an extra snack, whatever you choose - use your imagination! This game is great even for the shyest of seniors!

(Parked on the) Road Rally
No age limitation, No physical limitation

Items Needed:
large print plastic maps
red scrap paper
envelopes
scrap paper with clues written on them (put them inside the envelopes)
snacks/beverages

Create 3 clues and put them into a numbered envelope. Each envelope number should correspond to the number on the host(s) key with the answers on it. Each envelope should have different clues leading to a different destination. When the group has figured out the clues, they will be lead to a destination on their map. That is when they will hold up their "flag" (the red scrap paper). The host(s) will go to the group that held up their flag and check to make sure that their destination is correct. If their destination is correct, they get the next envelope and their next set of clues. Host(s) decide how many envelopes the groups should do before getting to their final destination. Once they have reached their final destination, the group gets to have a special treat associated with that destination. For example, if the final destination is Tahiti, they can have a fruity beverage. This is a great game for senior citizens because not only does it stimulate their mind, but it also gives them a foundation to build friendships with the people in their group!

Name That Tune
No age limitation, No physical limitation

Tunes should correspond to the age of the participants. For example, do not play two seconds of Snoop Dogg for a group of 60-somethings.
Play a tune from old TV shows, songs, movies, radio shows, etc. and have the group shout out their guesses as to what the tune is from.

Basic Trivia Game
No age limitation, No physical limitation

Similar to "Name That Tune", but without a tune! Create questions about movies, television, radio shows, theater, music, books, etc. (i.e. What color was Mr. Ed?) Have the group shout out their guesses. This game is great for senior citizens because it stimulates their mind and memory!

Topic Trivia
No age limitation, No physical limitation

Have participants shout out answers to questions such as "songs that contain the word 'love'", "names for your bottom", "flavors of ice cream". This game is also great for senior citizens because it stimulates their mind and memory!
In Grandma's Handbag: This is a game that we played on road trips when I was younger.
Horse Race: This game is something that I saw a group of senior citizens playing on the Rob & Big show on MTV.
(Parked on the) Road Rally: This game is something that I came up with while remembering the fun I had playing in a real road rally.
Name That Tune: Yet another game remembered from childhood road trips when my dad would hum a tune.
Basic Trivia Game: I'm not sure where this game originated, it has been around my entire life!
Topic Trivia: Game idea found on http://seniorsez.esmartbiz.com/topicgame.html