Lets Talk About Bingo
We all know the stereotype: Old people love bingo. But is it a “healthy” game for them to play?
Short answer? YES!
Liking bingo is not a trait of being old. You don’t retire and are suddenly addicted to the game. But there are a few reasons that bingo is such a popular game amongst the older population.
It is a way to get social interaction, decreasing rates of mental illness caused by isolation.
Playing boosts cognitive function and memory. Bingo is a simple game to learn but requires you to keep track of various elements. Research has indicated that bingo helps improve retention, alertness and mental acuity. (Robels, 2019)
The act of mark a card improves hand-eye coordination, keeping reflexes sharper.
It promotes fun and healthy competition while knowing that luck, rather than skill, primarily affects the outcome.
It is inclusive and accessible! Bingo is a fairly simple game, the rules can be easily explained and you do not need to stand or walk to play. This means that those with mobility issues or mental disabilities, such a dementia, can play with few or no accommodations.
All that being said; what are some accommodations we can make?
There are many changes you can implement to make bingo more accessible to your loved one. We will go over some general concepts here, but check out our “Bingo Accommodations” post for a more in depth look. Always remember to R.A.T.E your activity.
1) Room
Take a look around the room and try to reduce any stimuli that can interfere with a person’s ability to play. Light, sound, temperature and smell all have a large impact in someone’s ability to focus.
2) Agency
Social pressures might result in your loved one wanting to be treated the same as players who might not need as much assistance. That’s okay! It is their choice whether or not they want assistance. But there are some accommodations that can be made to the game as a whole so any number of players don’t feel that individual pressure. General notices for the group, such as “all B’s have been called”, or using simpler equipment for everyone can help prevent your loved one from feeling singled out.
3) Track
Can the player keep up with the difficulty level of the game? How can the caller, or helper, help them do this as independently as possible? Visual reminders, a print out of the rules, or fewer cards can all help with this.
4) Equipment
Can the player physically use the items in front of them? Is a bingo blotter too difficult to hold so they would do better with a sliding board? Does the player have visual or hearing impairment and would benefit from large print cards or sitting closer to the caller?
It is possible that even with accommodations, your loved one will struggle with the cognitive aspect of bingo. That’s okay. The most important thing to remember is that as long as they’re enjoying themselves, the game was a success!
