7 Card and Board Games to Boost Mental Well-Being in Seniors

Card and board games provide entertainment and unique, fun ways to make new friends in Independent Living. They can also improve cognitive function, mental clarity, and memory retention in older adults, helping you stay sharp and maintain mental well-being.

At Fleet Landing, we help seniors prioritize their health through WELLInspired™, a program that connects Residents with personalized resources and activities based on their needs and interests. You can find a Resident-led game club to join, such as the Chess Club, or even start your own gaming group.  

With so many games available, deciding which one to play can be difficult. Below, we've compiled seven senior-friendly board and card games to enjoy during your next game night. 

Board Games
Whether you're looking to test your knowledge or improve your problem-solving skills, there's a board game to match. Explore these popular options to choose from. 

Trivial Pursuit Generations

Trivial Pursuit Generations is a reimagined, senior-friendly edition of the popular trivia game. Each card features five generational questions, offering the option to play for your own generation or test your knowledge on another.

Tailored exclusively to older adults, Trivial Pursuit Generations contains an improved gameboard, with large, easy-to-read cards that accommodate players with reduced eyesight or dexterity. Because Trivial Pursuit is a memory game, it stimulates mental agility, encouraging you to think critically and recall past experiences or knowledge.  

Aggravation

Another old-time favorite, Aggravation involves using marbles to race around the board from your assigned base to home, disrupting other players' routes along the way. Throughout the game, you search for shortcuts, jump around the board, and send opponents back to their bases. 

However, one wrong move can also send your own marbles rolling back to start. To succeed at Aggravation, prepare to tap into your problem-solving and hand-eye coordination skills. Additionally, this game boosts cognitive stimulation, benefiting seniors with memory loss. 

Really Loud Librarians

Really Loud Librarians is a fast-paced word-shouting game that transforms seemingly useless knowledge into game-winning points. It involves drawing category cards and shouting out words aligning with that category and the chosen letter on the board. To win, you must think quickly and brainstorm unique answers, enhancing cognitive flexibility and adaptability. 

A fun, light-hearted game, Really Loud Librarians can also help reduce stress and anxiety, boosting mood and self-esteem. Additionally, it may reinforce language skills and improve memory recall, stimulating the brain to alleviate cognitive decline. 

Chronology

Test your knowledge of historical facts and timelines with Chronology, a memory recall game involving placing historical events in the correct sequence. One player reads a historical event from a card, and you decide where that event falls in your timeline. If correct, you keep the card and watch your timeline grow. 

Engaging with historical facts tests your memory and exposes you to new information, encouraging lifelong learning. Placing events in the correct order also provides a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, boosting confidence and mood. Additionally, this blast to the past may trigger memories of personal experiences to share with other players. 

Card Games

Classic card games encourage small- and large-group socialization, helping build community and strengthen brain functions. At Fleet Landing, we offer apartment floor plans with spacious living rooms and screened-in balconies, as well as boasting many common spaces for Residents to enjoy, providing ideal areas for group card games. Check out these suggestions. 

Up and Down the River

In Up and Down the River, one player shuffles and deals a set number of cards to each participant. Each round, players take turns bidding how many tricks they think they can win. If your prediction matches the number of tricks you win, you receive points toward your score. The player with the highest score at the end wins the game.

Up and Down the River encourages critical thinking, planning, and calculation. Each round, the number of cards dealt changes, requiring you to maintain focus and adjust your strategies accordingly. The game also involves remembering cards played by other participants, strengthening memory and keeping the mind sharp. 

Bridge

A classic card game, Bridge requires four players to form two partnerships as North-South and East-West. Each team bids on how many tricks they think they'll win. You then communicate with your partner, determining which cards to play to win points. As a game of strategy, Bridge pushes you to think several moves ahead, anticipating your partner's and opponents' plays. 

You must concentrate on the flow of the game, remembering key cards and adapting to changing circumstances. These efforts combined boost memory, focus, and problem-solving skills, challenging the brain and improving attention span. It also fosters communication and teamwork, reducing loneliness and inspiring social connection among seniors. 

Pinochle

Similar to Bridge, Pinochle involves splitting four players into two partnerships. The game uses a 48-card deck, and the dealer disperses 12 cards to each player. You then bid on how many points you think your team can earn through melds and tricks. The goal is to reach a predetermined target score to win the game. 

An easy game to learn, Pinochle is ideal for seniors who enjoy activities with simple rules to follow. The game also involves remembering previously played cards, creating card combinations to score points, and predicting possible outcomes. These tasks can help improve memory recall and critical thinking skills, reducing cognitive decline. 

Explore Our Engaging Community at Fleet Landing

At Fleet Landing, we offer a range of mentally stimulating activities, helping Residents lead active, engaging lives. Whether you're interested in joining a game club or hosting your peers for a game night, our community can help you achieve your goals. Contact us at 904.748.2252 to schedule an in-person tour and see what excitement awaits you at Fleet Landing!