It’s easy to lose interest in life when you’re bedridden.
Many seniors feel that their life is over if they’re bedridden, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.
There are still many great ways that caregivers and family members can help bed-bound seniors to pass the time by sharing in some great activities with bedridden seniors.
If you’re looking for games for bedridden adults, including ones to play in a hospital bed, I cover cards, board games and puzzles you can enjoy from the pillow.
Word and Guessing Games You Can Play From Bed
Some of the best games need nothing but two people and a little imagination. Riddles are a good place to start, since it helps to have someone to bounce answers off of. Try a “Riddle of the day,” and the two of you can puzzle over it even if you’re only in and out of the room.
For Name That Tune, hum a few notes of an oldie from their era and ask if they remember the song and the title. You can pretend you don’t know it, or take turns humming.
Work a crossword together. You read the clues, they help with answers, and you write them in if they fit the squares.
Cryptograms are coded messages, and seniors can play them alone or with others. You can find them online or in books.
Pictionary works even if you can’t draw. Take turns sketching and see how long the other person takes to guess.
In a rhyming game, everything has to be said in rhyme. It tends to bring some laughter into the room.
Two Truths and a Lie is simple too. They tell you two truths and a lie, and you ask questions until you work out which one is false. Then switch.
TV game shows like Jeopardy, Family Feud and “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” make a nice daily habit. See who answers the most questions. You may be surprised how much you both know.
If you’d rather change things up, simple card games and board games are other options. If you can’t be there, an adult coloring book and some markers make a relaxing afternoon on their own.
Not every game will suit every person, so adapt them to what your loved one can manage.
Games to Play From Bed: Cards, Board Games and Puzzles
Many older adults grew up on card games. Some played bridge or pinochle with friends back when they were up and about, and you can help keep that going if you can gather enough players.
With only two of you, cribbage or poker works fine. For poker chips, use pennies, matchsticks or favorite candies. Even a simple card game is often enough to give someone something to look forward to.
For board games, roll an overbed table up to the bed and set the board on it. Scrabble, Monopoly and chess all work this way. You can also look at some senior-friendly board games if you want other options. You may be surprised how good some older adults are at Scrabble.
If you want still more ideas that work from a pillow, there are more games for bedridden adults that caregivers and family can play together.
Chess suits two people well. If playing a whole game is too tiring, set the board aside and come back to it later.
Yahtzee is easy to learn, and even young children can play it with a bedridden grandparent or great-grandparent.
A jigsaw puzzle is something to work on together, and it exercises fine motor skills and the mind.
If you can’t be there, leave a bed tray and a deck of cards so they can play solitaire. There are other games older adults can play alone too.
Even 30 minutes of your time makes a difference. For a gift to bring along, here are some gift ideas for bedridden adults.
Not every game will suit every person who is stuck in bed. You will likely need to adapt some of them to what they can manage.
Activities to Entertain a Bedbound Elderly Person
Here are a few great ideas to help get you started.
1. Watch a Live Piano Bar Stream Together
Elmer’s Tunes streams live, interactive piano bar shows straight to your device. Host Dennis Elmer performs classic tunes and takes song requests while your loved one sings along from the comfort of bed.
Unlike just listening to music, Elmer’s Tunes provides social engagement and mental stimulation. The nostalgic music stirs up memories and the live participation creates a fun activity when mobility is limited.
So snuggle up into bed with them and watch together!
2. Read Together
Read them a book or allow them to read the book to you if they’re able. Either way you’re sharing time together and encouraging them. Don’t want to get sucked into a novel? Read them poetry or from a book of short stories.
3. Work Out a Riddle or Quiz Together
Two heads are always better than one, and you’ll be amazed at how sharp their mind still is for solving riddles and quizzes. Work on a word search or crossword puzzle together. Again, what one of you doesn’t know, the other may know.
4. Help Them to Write Letters to Friends and Family
Bring over a pack of nice stationary with you for them to write their own letter. Or, let them dictate one to you if writing is difficult for them. Take the letters to the post office for them. Then, encourage grandkids and other family members to write them back as well.
5. Peruse Old Recipes Together
Ask them for their favorite recipes. Then ask them what changes they made that weren’t on the card! You could even go a step further and make a few of the recipes for them so that they can enjoy them again. Use a blank recipe book to write them down and keep them together.
6. Give Them A Room With a View
Ensure that they have a great picture window in their room and plant some flowers outside of the window for them to enjoy. Add a birdfeeder or squirrel feeder to the view for even more entertainment. You could also add in some windchimes if they enjoy listening to them. Crack the window for some fresh air.
7. Watch a Movie or Program Together
Streaming services make it really easy to find something that you will both enjoy. You could also bring in a DVD player and binge-watch their favorite old-time television programs or movies.
8. Pamper Them
Give them a manicure or pedicure (or both as time allows) and paint their nails. Do their hair and maybe bring a nicely scented lotion that they will enjoy using at their leisure. It’s amazing how just a few minutes of pampering can lift up the spirits of a bedridden senior.
If washing hair in bed feels like too much, I put together my picks of dry shampoos for bedridden patients that make it easy to freshen up without moving anyone.
9. Look Through an Old Photo Album
Ask them who is in the pictures. Also ask them the story behind the pictures! You may want to jot down a few notes on this one so that you can remember later on who is who.
10. Invite a Friend Over to Visit
Then, serve them tea and cookies while they’re visiting. Have a tea party with them and make their favorites.
11. Ask Them to Share a Favorite Memory With You
Ask about their childhood or young adult life. What was their upbringing like? What was their favorite pet? Again, you may wish to take notes or record this for enjoyment later on.
12. Make a Mess With Paper Airplanes
Bring along some white paper and make paper airplanes. Try different designs and discuss the dynamics. Have a race and see who can fly the farthest.
13. Have the Kids or Grandkids Do a Skit for Them
They can act out their favorite books or a play or Christmas program they were in. Make sure it’s funny and will keep their interest.
14. Play Some Old Records
Play some of their favorite old records or use an online music streaming service to play their favorite oldies. You could go a step further and dress the part as well. Don’t be afraid to sing with them too!
15. Video Chat With a Friend.
Show the bedridden senior how to do video chats with friends via Zoom, Facebook, or Skype. Then, leave the room and let them visit for a while.
16. Give Them a Hand Massage
Give them a hand massage with a nicely scented lotion. Even just a hand massage can make a huge impact on uplifting their mood.
17. Let Them Beat You at A Game of Cards
Find out what their favorite card game is and challenge them to a game. To really lift their spirits, let them win!
18. Get Messy With Playdough
Give them some play dough to work with. Try to make models of each other. This can help exercise the hands too!
19. Break Out Their Favorite Board Games
Play board games (Yahtzee, scrabble, etc.). Play Dominoes. Play Bingo. Play Monopoly.
20. Work A Puzzle
Work on a jigsaw puzzle together. Set up a puzzle board to store on in case you don’t get it done in one sitting.
21. Introduce Them to Video Games
Get them a tablet and teach them a fun video game. If they really like it, get them a game console find some more games that they will enjoy.
22. Plan the Audiobook of Their Favorite Novel
Find out what their favorite novels are and play the audiobook version for them to listen to. You can play it on a phone, tablet, or even cassette and DVD rented from a library.
23. Set Up A Fairy Garden
Set up a fairy garden in the corner of the room for them to enjoy. Makeup stories about the fairies and what their lives might be like.
24. Work on a Craft Project Together
Many easy crafts can be done at home. Some ideas include making a suncatcher, making a birdhouse, making potholders, or creating a garland. These crafts are easy to do, and seniors and their families can enjoy them.
25. Have Them Teach You Knitting or Crochet or Embroidery
One way to do this is to have them teach you how to knit or crochet. Knitting and crocheting are both simple crafts that can be enjoyable by anyone, and they can be a great way to keep your mind alert and your body active.
26. Help Them to Write a Memoir
Bring over a journal and encourage them to begin writing their life story. If they can’t write, you could write it out as they tell you and self-publish it for family members. If you need some inspiration, take a look at the Story of My life Workbook at Amazon.
27. Learn a New Language Together
There are many ways to learn new languages, from books to tapes, to online services. Don’t want to learn a new verbal language? Then , try learning sign language together.
28. Write a Story Together
They tell you a sentence, you tell them a sentence, and then back to them. By taking turns, you write the story together. It’s a fun way to pass an afternoon. Who knows, you may just write a great novel together. Not up to a novel? Write poetry together instead.
29. Tell Each Other Jokes
Laughter is good medicine, after all. Make it a contest and see who go the longest without laughing. For extra fun, don’t be afraid to get (a little) dirty with it.
30. Wear a Funny Hat
See if they will say anything to you about it. Bring them one, too and have a funny hat day. Wear a different hat every time you come over.
31. Have A Party
Have a party and make it a fun day by celebrating something such as “the sun is shining,” flowers are blooming, new pets, etc. You could also do this on their birthday or a holiday. Make sure to make them a special dessert with a candle to blow out (cupcakes are ideal for this purpose).
32. Play on a Whiteboard
Make turns drawing something and set an egg timer or something to see who can identify the most pictures.
33. Unravel an Old Yarn Project to Upcycle It
Grab on old afghan, blanket, or pot holder and untie the yarn. They may enjoy using this for a fun future project.
34. Pick a Theme for Their Room
Periodically, go with a theme day and decorate the room to match the theme. The beach, a mountain stream, and fishing are all great ways to celebrate something unique and fun.
35. Make Every Day A Holiday
Nearly every day on the calendar is some special day recognizing some event or famous person. Find out what the holiday is for the day you visit and research it. Bring over the information and discuss it together.
Do It Together
These are just a few of the many great ways that you can help to pass the time for someone bedridden. Whatever activity you choose to do, the key is doing it together!
If your loved one is up for moving a little, there are also gentle exercises for bedridden seniors that can be done right in bed.
How about bringing a gift along with you? Here are some of the best gifts for bedridden seniors.
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