Games to Play in a Nursing Home

Updated: May 4, 2026

Games to play in a nursing home should be inclusive, adaptable and enjoyable without feeling too complicated. A wheel spinner can make games more exciting by choosing the next question, team, song, topic or challenge.

• Name that tune: Spin the wheel to choose a song decade, artist or music style, then play a short clip or sing a familiar line.
• Picture memory game: Add themes such as seaside, school days, pets, weddings, holidays or old shops, then show related pictures and invite memories.
• Word association: Spin to reveal a word and ask residents to say the first connected word that comes to mind.
• Finish the phrase: Add common sayings, song titles, film titles or proverbs and let residents complete them.
• Gentle quiz game: Use categories such as food, animals, television, sport, history, places or music.
• Bingo variations: Spin to choose numbers, picture cards, words, colours, songs or themed bingo items.
• Would you rather: Add friendly choices such as tea or coffee, seaside or countryside, cats or dogs, dancing or singing.
• Memory box game: Spin to choose an object from a box and discuss what it was used for.
• Story circle: Spin to choose a prompt, then build a group story one sentence at a time.
• Chair movement game: Add safe seated movements and let the wheel decide the next action.