Group Games

[Guest Lynette]

We recently played Outburst, Jr and the residents loved it (assisted living facility). The game gives you cards with a topic (ex. things on a kitchen counter). the card has a list of answers.( blender, toaster, etc) The residents are divided into teams. Each team has a different topic and at their turn they shout out answers to the topic. They get a point for each answer they say that is printed on the card. You play for however long you want and the team with the most points wins. (I give them each smarties, because they're so smart!) I'd love to know of any other team games similar to this that anyone has had success in that doesn't require them to read small print or talk individually (like taboo). Thanks!!

[Diana 0]

Hi Lynnette, I must admit, my residents also enjoyed Pictionary - we just used a dry erase board - I got residents to respond that I normally don't hear from!

[lllucas 0]

Hi, Lynette! :-)

 

For Pictionary, my husband, who is an artist, comes in once or twice a month and draws for the residents. It's a lot of fun to hear them trying to figure out "I'm the only little petunia in the onion patch" and "chew Mail Pouch Tobacco."

 

Also, I have a lot of luck with Hangman. Like Diana, I use a dry erase board (or a chalk board). It's amazing the amount of participation I get from the residents. People who ordinarily are quiet and seem non-responsive suddenly are calling out letters and blurting out answers. I try to use common phrases rather than single words. Amazing!

 

Best Wishes,

 

Linda Lucas, AD ;-)

The Activity Director's Office

http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com

[stelymun19 0]

A game that we play as a group is darts. I know you probably are thinking we are crazy! But you can play it safely. We have a couch in our activity room and I place an electronic dart board on it.(the kind with the plastic holes) Then we allow the residents to move further or closer to the board depending on their needs. The only requirement is that we require all of the people to sit. We usually play men against women because they get excited about playing against one another. We go about 3-4 rounds and whichever team scores the most points win. The good thing is with the board on the couch it is at wheelchair level for them and the plastic darts don't break as easy because they just fall right on the couch.

 

Another game the residents like is balloon volleyball, I know there are probably many versions of the game the way we like to play it is by putting two 6 foot banquet type tables together. Then I place 2 residents on each side of the table so we have 4 teams of 2. I throw the balloon in the middle of the table and the object is for one team to get the balloon past the other people. The first team to 5 points wins that round. The residents really get into this game and have fun with it.

[StacieO 0]

Hey, those all sound like super games! Don't be afraid to admit you are using board games like Outburst & Pictionary! About a year ago, we finally purchased "Pokeno" (the one you can find in Sea Bay cat.) & my residents LOVE IT! It is now ranking up there w/ BINGO, which, in my facility is Holy. My higher functioning residents enjoy it & they have also sat w/ the lower functioning residents to help them, too! We do it every-other week here. I'm working on re-doing our "games" cupboard on the floor, & plan to add some of the above mentioned games. The trend in my area (Western Minnesota) has been admitting lower function residents (lots of Assist. Livings in our area), but those rehab/transitional residents enjoy those board games that they can pull out at anytime when they are spending time w/ spouse or other family members. We have a group of 3 or 4 that play boggle together after supper some evenings, when my staff are providing activities for the lower functioning residents. I think they are a helpful tool.

 

Stacie