How to run a game hour in assisted living

A good game hour feels easy to the residents and takes a little planning from staff. This guide walks through one hour from setup to the last laugh, with the games that make each part work.

Before residents arrive (10 minutes)

Turn on the TV or projector and open ElderWit.com in the web browser. Sign in with your staff account.

Make the text bigger if the room is large, and sit in the back row for a moment to check that you can read it.

Pick three games: a warm up, a main game and a finish. Choose the Easy level for a mixed group.

Warm up (5 minutes)

Start with a game everyone can answer, such as Show of Hands or Would You Rather. There are no wrong answers, so late arrivals can join right away.

Tap the residents who joined in the activity log while people settle.

Main game (25 minutes)

Run a trivia game or a team quiz. The 1950s, Classic Movies and Two Teams are reliable favorites.

Read every question out loud and give the room time to call out answers. Tap the answer the group agrees on.

Leave room for stories. A question about a first car can lead to ten good minutes of talk, and that is time well spent.

A calm middle (10 minutes)

Switch to something quieter, such as a word search or Finish the Saying on the screen, so the energy stays even.

Finish on a high note (5 minutes)

End with a game the group knows and likes, such as Gentle Jokes or a short bingo round.

Ask what to play next week and write it down.

After the hour

Check the activity log: ElderWit has the date, the games played and the minutes. At the end of the month, one tap makes a program summary to print or keep on file.

Games for this hour

Show of Hands Ask the room a question. Count the hands. See what the group likes.
Would You Rather Pick one of two nice things. There are no wrong answers.
The 1950s Rock and roll, cars with fins and life in the 1950s.
Classic Movies Stories, songs and stars of the old films.
Two Teams Split the room into the Gulls and the Puffins. Take turns with lighthouse questions. A miss lets the other team steal.
Word Search Find the hidden words in the letters.
Finish the Saying Pick the missing word in a well known saying.
Gentle Jokes Read a joke. Guess the answer. Then tap to see it.
Number Bingo A number is called. Find it on your card. Fill a line to win.

Tips

Sit people close to the screen, with the best view for residents who see less well.
Use names. Saying a resident's name when they answer makes the room warmer.
Keep the pace gentle. A slow game where everyone answers beats a fast one where three people do.
Rotate the host. Residents who love a game often enjoy reading the questions.