Follow
Share

My mother is in assisted living and suffers from dementia. She is an intelligent woman who has been an avid reader and enjoys puzzles and word games. She has never been very social so her cats, books, and games occupy most of her time. As her cognitive ability has declined, I have had a hard time finding activities that still spark her interest. Does anyone have suggestions for subscription magazines that have word games (or anything else) for someone like her?

Find Care & Housing
Try puzzles and word games for children. Buy them at a thrift store to find out which kinds work for her. You can subscribe after you find one that she likes.

You can also buy childrens' books for her at the thrift store. Select the colorful kind made of cardboard and on the level of a toddler. If they have fuzzy pages, so much the better. They sometimes become very tactile and like feeling the pages. They like to look at the big pictures of children and animals in the books, and maybe she can read the words that go with them, but don't count on it. You can sit with her to "read" them. You can also search online for busy boards or soft fabric busy quilts with puzzles on them, such as belt buckles that fasten, zippers to zip, buttons with loops, etc. They are specially made for dementia patients.

I've tried all these things at husband's MC facility, and many of the residents have enjoyed them.
Helpful Answer (0)
Reply to Fawnby
Report

My Mom was an advid reader so much so it trumped TV. She did crosswords every day. Dementia took that away from her. She could read a sign but the ability to read a book and comprehend it was lost. I gave her a book. One day the bookmark would be almost to the end, next day it would be back to the beginning.
Helpful Answer (0)
Reply to JoAnn29
Report

Buy 1 cheap book (simplest level) and see if she can even do it. My MIL did word searches all the time until she developed memory impairment and cognitive decline. It was more frustrating to her than entertaining. Entertainment becomes less possible the more impairment they have.
Helpful Answer (1)
Reply to Geaton777
Report
Madge20 Jul 18, 2026
Thank you!
(0)
Report
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=very+easy+crosswords+for+seniors&adgrpid=193183512944&hvadid=792894633497&hvdev=t&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9052218&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=13856083053167552119--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=13856083053167552119&hvtargid=kwd-2378894560450&hydadcr=9065_13910849_2441560&mcid=5d83367be9ad3d8aa4b4fee43af2e6c7&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_5uy8om0iy_e

Right there! A link from Amazon.

Good luck.
Helpful Answer (0)
Reply to lealonnie1
Report

Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter