Free Printable Dementia Activities

Sometimes the best activity is a sheet of paper and a pen at the kitchen table. Printables need no charging, no passwords and no screen, and they are easy to bring to a visit or a group. This page describes the free printable activities on our site, how to print them so they are easy to see and hold, and a few simple homemade printables that families and activity staff find useful.

What free printable activities do you offer?

We offer four free printables. Open any of these game pages and use the Print button to get a printer-friendly version.

Large-print word search

The Word Search uses large letters and keeps words running only across and down, with no diagonals or backward words. Work on it together: one person reads a word from the list, the other looks for it. If finding words gets hard, try circling the first letter of each word together, or simply reading the word list aloud and talking about each word.

Coloring pages

Coloring pages can be printed for markers or colored pencils, or colored on a tablet by tapping a color, then a part of the picture. For printed pages, offer thick markers and a few colors at a time. See our arts and crafts guide for ways to keep coloring adult and relaxed.

Conversation cards

Conversation Cards pair a clear picture with an open prompt, such as “Tell me about…” or “What do you notice?” They are written as open invitations, not quiz questions. Print a set, cut them apart, and keep a few in a bag for visits or by the phone for calls. They also work well in reminiscence groups.

Picture bingo cards

Picture Bingo cards use pictures instead of numbers. Print one card per player and use the on-screen caller on a laptop, TV or projector. We suggest calling until everyone’s card is full, so no one is left out. See group activities for care homes for how to run a session.

How do I print activities so they are easy to use?

Small changes in how you print make a big difference.

Make it easy to see

• Large, plain type. Use the largest print setting that still fits the page. Avoid fancy or script fonts.
• Strong contrast. Dark ink on white or cream paper. Skip pale gray or colored backgrounds.
• Matte paper reduces glare under bright lights.
• Check glasses and lighting. The Alzheimer’s Association notes that vision and hearing problems can make communication harder, and suggests having them checked regularly. A bright, even lamp helps too.

Make it easy to hold

• Heavy paper or card stock stays flat, is easier to pick up, and stands up to repeated use.
• A clipboard or non-slip placemat keeps the page from sliding.
• Thick markers or chunky pencils are easier to grip than thin pens.

Make it reusable

• Laminate pages or slide them into clear sheet protectors. Use dry-erase markers on word searches and bingo cards, then wipe clean.
• Choose matte pouches if glare is a problem, and round the corners of laminated cards with scissors so they are comfortable to handle.
• Keep a folder of favorites so you are not printing the same page every week.

Keep it simple

• One task per page. A single word search or a single picture, not several activities crowded together.
• Plenty of white space. A busy page can feel overwhelming.
• No instructions to read, where possible. Show the person what to do instead.
• Cut sheets down. If a full page is too much, cut it in half or fold it so only part shows.

Other useful printables you can make at home

Not every helpful printable is a game. These are easy to make with a word processor and a printer.

A life-story page

A one-page “about me” sheet with a photo, the name the person likes to be called, where they grew up, their work, family, favorite foods, music and things that comfort or upset them. Dementia Australia suggests a memory book with details about the person’s life, likes and important people, to help visitors and caregivers and to prompt conversation.

It is especially useful in hospitals and new care settings. The NIA recommends giving hospital staff a personal information sheet covering the person’s routine, preferred name, likes and dislikes, possible triggers, and nonverbal signs of pain.

A daily schedule

A large, simple schedule for the day with times, a few words and a small picture for each part: breakfast, walk, lunch, rest, music, dinner. The Alzheimer’s Association’s daily care plan suggests planning around the person’s best times of day, with regular wake-up and bedtimes and a balance of activity and rest. Post it at eye level, perhaps on the fridge, and keep it flexible. See our daily routine guide for more.

Picture labels for rooms and drawers

The NIA suggests using brightly colored signs or simple pictures to label the bathroom, bedroom and kitchen. The same idea works for drawers and cupboards: a picture of socks on the sock drawer, cups on the cup cupboard. Print, laminate and tape them up.

A sorting set

Print pictures from two simple categories, such as fruits and flowers or tools and kitchen items, onto card stock. Cut them apart and sort them into two baskets together. The on-screen version of this is Sort Together.

Song lyric sheets

Print the words to a few favorite songs in very large type for a sing-along. Even people who no longer read much may enjoy holding the sheet.

A family photo page

A single page with four to six large family photos, each with a first name underneath. It can sit on the table for anyone to pick up and talk about. Labels help visitors and staff join the conversation, and no one has to ask “Who is this?”

A recipe card

Print a favorite family recipe in large type. Use it to cook together, or just to talk about meals from the past.

How do I offer a printable without it feeling like homework?

Present it as something to share, not a test.

• Sit down and start it yourself. “I’m doing this word search. Want to help me find ‘garden’?”
• Work together. Take turns, or one person finds and the other circles.
• Never mark it right or wrong. The Alzheimer’s Association’s guide to activities at home advises focusing on the process, not the result, and on enjoyment rather than achievement.
• Leave pages out. The same guide suggests placing scrapbooks, photo albums or old magazines in easy-to-reach places. Printed cards and photo pages can sit on a side table in the same way.
• Stop whenever you like. Half a coloring page is a fine afternoon. So is putting the page away and having a cup of tea.

Where to find more

Browse all our games and printables, or see activities for every stage for more ideas, with and without paper.