Activity for elderly to engage the mind

Rummikub or Sequence are good games to consider. Word Search puzzles also might be helpful.

@dwicks Is your dad computer literate? My dad passed at age 96, in 2012, and was on his computer to the very last couple of weeks. He did a lot of internet surfing, always learning, and playing games on it. Check with the area he lives in to see if there is a group who will come to your dad, and bring board games or even teach him chess. Does he play a musical instrument, or want to learn? Can you make that happen?
Ginger

Thanks for the response, he is not computer literate, the town doesn’t have a group that can come in, I will look into seeing about teaching him some board games and maybe looking into an iPad type device.

Thanks for the response , I'll will definitely look into those

Hi @dwicks, Does your father have a camera and like bird watching? I'm 76 and have a good friend that is 89 that I visit and have coffee with him. His kitchen has a window overlooking his back yard and he has bird feeders fairly close to the house. It's something that brings him a little joy to see the varieties of birds. He even bought a birds of Minnesota book so he can identify them.

Here are a few links that may offer some additional ideas...

7 Mind Stimulating Activities & Cognitive Games for Seniors
-- https://www.sonashomehealth.com/activities-for-the-mind/

Brain Games for the Elderly That Improve Mental Health and Memory
-- https://supercarers.com/blog/games-for-elderly/

Thanks for the ideas and websites

@bilton Maybe there are some high school or college students who might come over and play board games. Schools usually have after school clubs that focus on leadership. Helping your dad might be a good project

Or Scouts!

Thanks for the idea

@bilton
My friend, before she passed and I regularly played Scrabble, Canasta, Gin & 500 Rummy. We enjoyed short jaunts too.
I’m not sure of Dads physical or mental abilities or even his interest but I always enjoy talking to older people who have lived through so much history and have so many interesting stories. Would he like to interact with children? Maybe he could help at schools or talk to neighborhood kids. My Dad was a Quadriplegic and outside a lot and kids were always around asking every imaginable question. You know how uninhibited children are. That interaction was good for all of them.
Does he read? Maybe he’d like to go to the library occasionally. Do you think he’d be interested joining Connect? You could teach him the ropes in no time. If I can learn, anyone can learn.
Jake