The Surprising Health Benefits of Trivia for Seniors With Dementia

In this article:

• What is dementia?
• Health benefits of trivia for seniors with dementia
• Trivia questions for seniors with dementia
• Best trivia games for seniors with dementia

Dementia is a general term for a decline in cognitive function that typically affects seniors. Individuals with dementia may have difficulty remembering personal information or basic facts and may struggle with problem-solving and other tasks that affect their daily routines.

While it is natural to experience some memory loss as we age, it is essential to understand that dementia isn’t simply a part of aging. Dementia is a group of disorders that lead to extreme cognitive decline. The effects of dementia can be severe enough to impact relationships and disrupt an individual’s activities of daily living.

One way seniors can help manage dementia symptoms is by exercising their brains. Games like puzzles and trivia can help seniors stimulate their brains to produce dopamine, which is vital to healthy brain function. In many cases, the effects of dementia cannot be reversed, but they can be slowed down with proper mental stimulation and healthy living. For example, a good game of trivia can offer these positive benefits:

• Stress reduction — Playing games and having fun releases dopamine, promoting attention, focus, and creativity while also decreasing stress.
• Improved cognitive function — Remembering the answer to a trivia question stimulates the brain and supports stronger communications between brain cells. Even if you don’t know the answer, learning something new is also mentally stimulating.
• Opportunities to socialize — Having fun with friends helps ward off loneliness and can improve mental and physical well-being. Trivia is a great way to combat the effects of social isolation that many seniors with dementia experience.

Want to host a trivia night for seniors? You can download lists of questions online or write your own to add a personal touch to your game. The best trivia questions for seniors with dementia are tailored to the person, focus on topics of particular interest, and feature multiple clues to keep the person engaged. Check out the following sample questions to get your trivia night started.

Sample trivia questions for seniors with dementia

Question 1:

• Clue #1: On separate occasions, this five-star general held the highest civilian rank and the highest military rank available in the United States.
• Clue #2: A career soldier, he was the Supreme Allied Commander during World War II and oversaw the invasion of Normandy.
• Clue #3: The 34th Commander in Chief, his vice president was Richard Nixon, and John F. Kennedy succeeded him in 1961.

Answer: Dwight D. Eisenhower

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Question 2:

• Clue #1: This American author, disability rights advocate, and political activist was born in the year 1880.
• Clue #2: Famous during her time, she met numerous presidents and traveled to over 40 countries with her companion, Anne Sullivan.
• Clue #3: In 1920, she helped found the American Civil Liberties Union, and she was the first deafblind person to earn a bachelor’s degree.

Answer: Helen Keller

Question 3:

• Clue #1: This professional athlete was born in Cairo, Georgia, in the year 1919 to a family of sharecroppers.
• Clue #2: He was an all-American football player for UCLA before he dropped out to serve in the Army from 1942 to 1944.
• Clue #3: Considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time, he broke the game’s color barrier in 1947.

Answer: Jackie Robinson

Question 4:

• Clue #1: Born in 1935, this famous musician sold over 1 billion records and starred in numerous movies.
• Clue #2: Despite already being famous, this person was drafted into the Army in 1958 at the age of 23.
• Clue #3: You can still visit this King of Rock and Roll’s home, Graceland, which is now a museum.

Answer: Elvis Presley

Question 5:

• Clue #1: Born in 1897, this aviation pioneer was the 16^th woman ever to receive her pilot’s license.
• Clue #2: She disappeared during an attempt to fly across the Pacific Ocean in 1937, sparking many theories about what happened.
• Clue #3: She was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean and the first person to fly from Hawaii to California.

Answer: Amelia Earhart

There are several types of trivia games that are perfect for seniors with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Board games, mobile games, and “pub-style” trivia sessions are all fun and accessible ways to engage with seniors, depending on their independence and cognitive abilities.

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These are a few great games to try:

• PlayShow Jepoardy™: Perfect for fans of the beloved game show, this service allows you to compete against friends and past contestants through your smartphone. It even features actual TV episodes hosted by Alex Trebek.
• Smart Ass™: Great for multiple people, this colorful trivia board game is quickly learned and features large game pieces and an easy-to-read design.
• Trivia for Seniors: This paperback book features 365 weird and funny facts to keep seniors laughing while they learn.

Is your loved one struggling with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia? Do you feel like they need a higher level of assistance than you can provide as a caregiver? Discuss your family’s needs and find out what type of care is best for your aging loved one with free advice from one of our Senior Living Advisors.

The information contained in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or to create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. The recommendations contained herein are based on the opinions of the author. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.

Sources

Watson, S. (2021, July 20). Dopamine: The pathway to pleasure. Harvard Health Publishing.

Roniger, L. (2016, December 2). It’s not trivial … knowing obscure facts is good for our mental health. Healthline.