Games for the Elderly
What games are suitable for older people or people with limited mobility?
While we sell and promote many of the games mentioned on this page, the idea is that it should serve as a general guide for anyone who is interested to know more about games that suit people of more senior years or for those who are infirm or physically disabled.
A great many traditional games are suitable for older or disabled people
but the most obvious 2 games that spring to mind are Shuffleboard
and Bowls. Bowls is enjoyed
by millions of people throughout the world on a weekly basis and the vast
majority of them are in their senior years. There are bowling
aids available for people in wheelchairs or people who cannot bend
down properly.
Bowls comes in a variety of forms:
- Crown Green Bowls - a Midlands / Northern England game
- Lawn Bowls and Indoor Bowls - played more in Southern England and internationally
- Short Mat Bowls - an indoor version of Lawn bowls for limited space played on 45 foot mats
- Carpet Bowls - a more sociable variant enjoyed in village halls and community centres - uses a 30 foot mat
In
America, Shuffleboard is viewed in a very similar way. Shuffleboard courts
can be found in virtually every hotel and beach resort throughout the
state of Florida and large clubs are found all over the USA, some with
more than 50 courts. Shuffleboard is also popular in Japan, Australia
and Brazil and is now beginning to be taken up in Europe.
It is particular good for the elderly because there is no need to bend
down and while the game has a relaxed feel, it can be taken seriously
by those with a competitive streak.
Of
course all our board games
are suitable for people with limited mobility as are our dice,
card and tile games. Games that the older generation tend to opt for
are:
- Mah Jong
- Dominoes
- Certain forms of playing card games e.g. Bridge
- Backgammon
- Chess
- Cribbage
There
isn't any reason why the more aged amongst us can't enjoy other games
of dexterity and outdoor games, as well as Bowls. Pub
games have always been enjoyed by the older generation. We would suggest
the following as being suitable for older people who are happy bending
down to pick up balls etc.:
- Croquet
- Aunt Sally
- Horseshoes
- Most forms of Skittles
- Shove Ha'penny
- Kubb
- Sjoelbak
Let us know if you think there's something missing from this list.
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