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Large-print activity sheets for seniors

Free printable brain games for older adults: word searches, proverbs, shopping sums, sequences, easy sudoku and more, in large print, one per page, with answers. For care homes, day centres and memory groups.

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What each sheet works on

  • Word search: attention and visual scanning. Words only run across and down, with no diagonals and nothing backwards.
  • Proverbs: long-term memory and language. They tend to come back on their own, and they get people talking.
  • Jumbled words: language and flexible thinking. All the words on a sheet share a theme, which is given.
  • Sequences: reasoning and order: numbers going up in twos, letters, days of the week, months…
  • Sums: addition, subtraction, easy times tables and shopping sums in whole pounds.
  • Opposites: vocabulary and association, joined up with a line.
  • Categories: verbal fluency. Free answers: anything that fits counts.
  • 4×4 and 6×6 sudoku: logic with very few numbers. The 4×4 is a gentle first go at sudoku.

Tips for a group session

It works best to start with a sheet people will get right (proverbs or opposites) and leave the harder ones for later. Read the instructions out loud, allow plenty of time and go through the answers together, with no scores. Every sheet has its own number, so the whole group can have exactly the same one and compare.

Why large print

Newspaper puzzles are designed to save space, not to be easy to read. With tired eyes, a 15×15 word search in 9-point type stops being fun. Here each activity fills a whole page in 20-point type or bigger, in black and white, so it prints well on any printer.

For anyone who wants more, the printable puzzles section has sudoku in three levels and murder mystery cases. And with the word search maker you can build a word search with the names of the group, the town or anything you like.

Frequently asked questions

Who are they for?

For older adults and the people who work with them: care homes, day centres, memory groups, occupational therapists and families looking for something to do together at home. The print is large, there is one activity per page and there is plenty of room to write.

How big is the print?

On paper the main text is 20 point, and the letters in the word searches and the numbers in the sudokus are 24 to 28 point. That is far bigger than a newspaper puzzle, so it can be read comfortably with tired eyes.

How many sheets are there?

Nine kinds (word search, 4×4 sudoku, 6×6 sudoku, proverbs, jumbled words, sequences, sums, opposites and categories), with several different sheets of each. “Another sheet” moves on to the next one, and the “Booklet” button puts one of each together so you can print them in one go.

Do they come with answers?

Yes, on a separate page at the end, so whoever runs the session can check them. You can remove them before printing with the answers button. The categories sheet has free answers and says so.

Can I use them in my care home or group?

Yes. They are free and you can print them as many times as you like, in care homes, day centres, charities or at home. There is no sign-up and nothing is sent to any server.

Do they replace therapy?

No. They are supporting material to keep the mind active and have a good time. If someone has a diagnosis of cognitive decline, their stimulation plan should come from the professional looking after them.

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