I'm looking for ideas for games for DH that will help his memory. We used to do 100-word jigsaw puzzles, but now he can't. UNO is the one. The only thing he'll do is go back to bed after he's eaten. He can play Solitare with my coaching. We try to play Rummy, but then he applies those rules to Solitare. He had a successful game oh Trouble with a grandson yesterday.
The large puzzle pieces were perhaps 2" x 3" so they were easier to fit together than the itty bitty less than 1" sized pieces, and they're easier on older eyes. I bought puzzles with soothing patterns - farmyards, farm animals, cats, puppies, fish and ocean scenes. ...kind of a two for the price of one therapy.
I'm wondering about Chinese checkers, or dominoes. They're simpler and more one dimensional than say something like Scrabble.
Could he respond to prompts for crossword puzzles from magazines like Reminisce or Reminisce Extra? Some of their puzzles focus on the Depression and WWII eras, and seem to stimulate memories because the word associations connect with old those long ago memories. (It isn't often that the words :breadline" and "ration coupons" are heard today.)
This is more of an activity and memory jogger than a game, but it might work if your DH still has good eyesight.
I save photos and stamps of military aircraft; my father gets solicitations that sometimes also include military aircraft, especially from organizations like WASPs. He also gets several military calendars.
I cut out photos of his favorite planes (he has hand limitations because of an old woodworking injury), make a collage and with a glue stick attach them onto decorative boxes to keep first class mail, small medical things like his PulseOx, eye drops, etc. There are also aviation and WWII history magazines with a lot of photos.
If your husband was in the military, and unless he doesn't want to be reminded of his service, an activity like this could be soothing and occupy his attention for awhile.
The same thing could be done though with any other interests he might have - fishing, hiking, walking, golfing, sports, etc.
The photos don't have to be glued onto boxes; I also make collages for me of flowers and insert the pages inside the plastic covers of notebooks which I use extensively for taxes, medical and business purposes. Just the process of cutting photos from garden catalogues and arranging them on paper is so relaxing - it's really simple but the artistic stimulation is extraordinary.
Animals, domestic or wild, are also subjects for collages.
Accompany this kind of activity with soothing music, or something your husband especially likes, and the activity becomes very restful; for me it's also restorative and stimulating. The only downside is that it makes me want to buy more plants!
Harriet Carter has color books aimed toward the more mature person.
Magnetic Poetry website has magnet words, designs, foreign languages, etc. Can be used with a cookie sheet while sitting.
Lincoln logs are good for building and stacking. Pinwheels, harmonicas and bubbles are good for deep breathing. A small keyboard for finger exercises.
Velcro mitt and Velcro ball for games of catch.
-Ominos and chinese checkers. So far these have given us several hours of "occupational therapy." Utube has great videos showing how to play. We're so appreciative for the effort any of you make to make our way easier.