Chess for seniors and in care homes: running a workshop that stimulates memory
Among board games for older people, chess has a place of its own: it is played by two, without chance, and offers a difficulty that adapts to each person. Large studies associate this kind of pastime with better cognitive ageing. In a care home, a regular workshop, in a small group and with relaxed rules, is the simplest format to set up.
Board games for older people: why chess
Population studies on ageing rarely measure chess in isolation, but they converge on one point: pastimes that demand regular mental effort are associated with less dementia. The Australian ASPREE study is the most recent illustration.
Wu et al., 2023 · JAMA Network Open
Lifestyle Enrichment in Later Life and Its Association With Dementia Risk
- Who
- 10,318 Australians aged 70 and over (ASPREE-ALSOP study)
- Type
- Observational cohort, follow-up of about 10 years · level of evidence: Moderate (association)
- Result
- “Active mental activities” (games, cards or chess, crosswords, puzzles) are associated with a 9% lower risk of dementia per level of frequency (HR 0.91); reading and writing activities, 11% (HR 0.89). Social activities are not associated with the risk.
- What the study does not say
- Healthy volunteers, almost all of European origin; reverse causation not ruled out.
The Bronx Aging Study (Verghese et al., NEJM, 2003), conducted among 469 people over 75, had already associated board games, reading, music and dancing with a lower risk. This work does not prove that playing protects, as we explain on the page chess and Alzheimer’s, but it justifies offering these activities to those who enjoy them.
Chess also has practical advantages for an older audience:
- no chance: everyone is in control of the game, which is rewarding;
- a free pace: with no clock, you take the time you need;
- long-term memory: many residents learned the rules in their youth;
- a link between generations: grandchildren, volunteers and residents share the same game.
Running a chess workshop in a care home, step by step
A workshop is built with the team: activities coordinator, occupational therapist, psychomotor therapist or psychologist depending on the home, and sometimes a volunteer from a nearby club. The local chess club is often the best way in to find someone to lead sessions; some national federations also have a commission for health, social and disability work (the French federation does).
- Identify the participants. Former players, the curious, people who enjoy card games. Four to eight participants are enough.
- Assess simply. Who knows the rules? Who sees the pieces well? Who tires quickly? The occupational therapist’s opinion helps to adapt the equipment.
- Set a regular appointment. One session a week, the same day, at the same time: regularity is part of the benefit.
- Structure the session (about 45 minutes). Welcome and recap of the previous session (5 minutes); a short group exercise on a large board, for example a mate in one (10 minutes); free games or mini-games in pairs (25 minutes); a friendly wrap-up (5 minutes).
- Relax the rules. Taking moves back allowed, help from the leader, team games. The aim is enjoyment and conversation.
- Vary things. Famous games recounted, a problem of the day on display, a friendly tournament once a quarter, a meeting with a school.
A leader’s tip. For people who have never played, start with the “pawn battle” (pawns only, the first to get to the far end wins). In one session, everyone is playing.
For residents whose memory is more affected, the simplified forms described on the page cognitive stimulation games for Alzheimer’s are better suited than the full game. And to understand what players remember, and why, see the page chess and memory.
Suitable equipment
- Pieces that are large enough and weighted, easy to grasp and that do not fall over at the slightest movement.
- Strong contrast between the light and dark pieces, and between the squares.
- A stable board, set on a table at a good height for wheelchairs.
- A wall or demonstration board for group exercises.
- The clock is optional: in this setting it causes more stress than it helps.
The simplest approach is to start from a complete chess set, board and pieces, ready to play, choosing a piece size that is comfortable for ageing hands and eyes.
Games for older people in a group: a comparison
| Game | Players | What it calls on | Entry difficulty | Advantage in a care home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chess | 2 (or teams) | Planning, attention, memory | High without adaptation | Rewarding, no chance |
| Draughts | 2 | Anticipation, attention | Medium | Rules often already known |
| Dominoes | 2 to 4 | Matching, simple arithmetic | Low | Large pieces, taking turns |
| Card games (belote, rummy) | 2 to 4 | Working memory, arithmetic | Medium | Very familiar, sociable |
| Lotto | Group | Listening, attention | Very low | Accessible to almost everyone |
| Scrabble | 2 to 4 | Language, vocabulary | Medium | Stimulates language |
| Rummikub | 2 to 4 | Logic, combinations | Medium | Tiles easy to handle |
A good workshop rotates the games: everyone finds their own, and variety keeps curiosity alive.
Games for an older person living alone
For an older person living alone, the question is twofold: keeping the mind occupied, and keeping in touch. Chess answers both.
- Chess problems: a “mate in two” a day, taken from a book or a newspaper, can be solved alone, at your own pace.
- Replaying annotated games: a reader’s pleasure, with the board on the table.
- Playing online on a tablet, against the computer or other players, preferably in slow games or correspondence games.
- Joining a club: many clubs welcome retired players during the day; it is often the best remedy for isolation.
What to keep in mind
- The studies cited show associations, not guaranteed protection against decline.
- A game that repeatedly puts someone in difficulty can discourage them: the challenge must remain a pleasure.
- The game replaces neither physical activity, nor medical follow-up, nor correcting hearing and eyesight, which are better established as prevention factors.
Frequently asked questions
How can you entertain older people?
By starting from their tastes and their history: familiar board games, music, shared reading, gardening, outings. Regular, shared activities at a comfortable pace are the most appreciated. Chess suits former players and the curious, with relaxed rules if need be.
How can you stimulate older people’s memory?
Through varied, regular activities that call for a pleasant mental effort: board games, reading, conversation, learning a new activity. Studies associate these pastimes with better cognitive ageing, without being able to guarantee a protective effect.
Which games for an older person living alone?
Chess problems, crosswords, card patience games, jigsaw puzzles, or online play on a tablet. To help fight isolation too, a chess or bridge club, or a neighbourhood workshop, adds contact with other players.