Hobbies And Interests
List Anything Game
This game involves someone selecting a broad category and then having residents take turns listing examples that fall in that category. For example, if the category is "states" the answers might be "Kentucky" or "Ohio." For a category like "animals," the answers might include "dogs" and "cats." Players are out of the game when they can't think of another example. The last remaining player is the winner.
Memory Game
This game involves selecting something all residents have had experience with. Examples might include birthday stories or wedding stories. This gives the residents a chance to get to know one another on a deeper level, and most people enjoy telling stories of their past. The activity begins when someone says, "Who wants to tell about (a subject)?" There is no winner or loser in this activity but participants who tell stories can be given small prizes.
Sing-along
Someone such as a nursing home employee should be selected to lead the sing-along before it begins. If the nursing home has the budget, providing instruments for residents to use can make the activity immensely enjoyable for them. The residents can sing along whenever they know the song or simply listen if that is what they prefer. When the budget allows, nursing homes could hire a local jazz ensemble to come and provide music.
Bingo
Bingo is a classic game of chance in which a caller randomly pulls balls or tiles from a basket. The caller names a letter and number, and if a participant has that letter-number combination on her randomly printed sheet, she may cover it with a token. When a player has five covered numbers horizontally, vertically or diagonally, he calls "Bingo" to win the game and a prize.