Adapting Bingo for Your Group
Does this scenario sound familiar? Your loved one used to love bingo, but their vision impairment has caused them to become increasingly more frustrated with themselves or others during the game and as a result they decided they won’t play anymore.
We’ve seen different versions of this scenario many times. It is upsetting for everyone involved; we can’t fix their eyesight, or their hearing, or their memory loss. But we can take the time to make a game more accessible and bring that joy back to them!
In our “Let’s Talk About Bingo” post we went over our R.A.T.E system to help you look at the game with a critical eye. Now we will talk more in depth about different strategies you can implement to your games. Some of these ideas can come under more than one aspect of R.A.T.E and this is by no means an exhaustive list.
1) Room
Reducing background noise, such as turning off music, can help those with hearing issues or sound sensitivity focus and follow along with what is going on.
Closing the blinds would prevent glare and make the cards easier to see.
Turning on the heat or air conditioning to keep the room at a comfortable temperature.
2) Agency
Using a microphone, particularly a remote microphone system such as Eversound, can help those with hearing impairment. Using translation equipment services so those who do not speak the common language can fully participate.
Some numbers and letters sound the same, particularly if the caller has an accent different to the player. By specifying “B as in Bingo, “G as in Golf”, or “I 16, I-1-6” the caller can mitigate confusion.
For those with sever impairment, such as advanced dementia, it might be easier to forgo the 5x5 card and instead use a 4x4 or even a 3x3. The payoff of completing a round or winning a game comes by much quicker, reducing feelings of frustration and even keeping their attention for longer.
3) Track
Using bingo cards or a screen to show the numbers helps those with memory issues as well as those with auditory issues. Having a visual aid helps those who may struggle to keep up with the pace of a quickly called game.
Placing an example of the pattern in full view of the players lets them reference it as they play without having to stop the caller to ask for a reminder, thereby increasing their independence and reducing the risk of embarrassment.
Once all the numbers in a group have been called, such as all the “O” numbers, the caller could say “All the O’s have been called”, allowing anyone who might have missed a number to mark it on their boards. This way, someone who struggles to keep up can independently rectify a missed number, thereby reducing the feelings of frustration brought upon by “never winning”.
4) Equipment
Large font cards help those with visual impairment. Braille bingo cards are also readily available.
There are various ways to mark a bingo card. Depending on the person’s mobility, they might prefer to cover the squares with foam or see-through 3D chips. There are even shutter slide card that can be used if it is difficult for them to pick up a chip or dabber.
Having someone sit with them can also help. Its possible that they are able to point out the numbers being called out on the board, but are incapable of marking them. Or they can physically cover a square, but struggle with retention. In which case having someone sit with them means they can “play together” and still participate in the activity.
We hope that these ideas help your loved one participate in a game they would otherwise decline to play.
