Geriatric Games for Nursing Students

Board Games

• Checkers is a fast moving board game that is fun and easy to play. Nursing students can arrange for patients to play against each other or set up a tournament. A game of chess can take more time to play than checkers, so a nursing student could locate two like-minded individuals who wish to play a game over a period of time and arrange for them to meet daily. Scrabble enhances critical thinking skills. For seniors primarily confined to a room, nursing students can set up a Scrabble board within easy reach. As people come and go from the room, each can take a turn.

Bingo

• Studies show regularly playing Bingo helps elderly people lessen their memory loss while building their hand-eye coordination. Nursing students can arrange for a room to be used for playing bingo and gather a group of seniors together. The nursing student can ask a willing participant to run the letter hopper and read the bingo letters, or try to nab a visiting relative and see if they are interesting in helping run the bingo game.

Card Games

• A great number of seniors enjoy playing cards, particularly bridge, canasta and poker. Nursing students may set up regularly scheduled tournaments or games for various card games. Less sedentary residents could use the help of a nursing student to set up a card table for playing one-on-one with other similarly limited seniors in their own room or living space.

Wii Video Games

• The Wii gaming system by Nintendo is all the rage at many senior centers. A video game system that costs upwards of $200 in 2011, the Wii game seniors appear to be most smitten with is Wii bowling. Nursing students can plug a Wii system into a television where the general population gathers to watch television. Nursing students will also need to create a wide clearing in front of the television to accommodate swinging arms and legs of Wii bowling participants, as well as a seating area for seniors waiting their turn or just observing the fun.

Outdoor Games

• Seniors who get around and have facilities where they can go outside to play outdoor games may wish to play croquet. This lawn game requires a course that can be set up and dismantled by nursing students who may wish to monitor patients while they play. Other outdoor games include bocce and horseshoes for more vigorous seniors.