Many people with a "competitive" personality love to play games. They don't have to give up their favorite pastime just because they are room-bound. With just a few supplies, you can play games with residents on a one-to-one visit.

You will need a basket of "games to go." For example:

1. Board Games - Many board games can be played with just two players - chess for example. However, chess might take too much time, but a quick game of checkers can be fun. Also, you can play such games as Connect Four, Sorry and Chinese Checkers. Ask the individual if they have a favorite game.

2. Pencil & Paper Games - Play such games as Tic-Tac-Toe, Squares or Dots & Boxes.

3. Concentration Games - Take duplicate pictures or clip art and glue them to index cards. Shuffle the cards and put them face down on a table. Players take turns turning over two cards at a time, trying to make matches.

4. Card Games - War is a perfect card game for two players. To play, shuffle a standard 52-card deck. Deal the cards so that each player gets 26 cards. Players keep their cards in front of them, face down. The players simultaneously turn over their top cards. The higher card wins the pair and the winning player takes both cards and puts them at the bottom of their face-down pile. (Ace is high card; 2 is low card.) In the event of a tie, the players have a "war." Each player places three more cards face down in the middle of the table and then turns a fourth card face up. The player with the higher of these cards takes all 10 cards (the total number now in the middle). If these two cards are also a tie, additional cards are turned face up, one at a time, until one player wins and takes the entire set of cards. The first player to win the entire deck of cards is the winner. Alternatively, because winning the entire deck can take a long time, the first player to win three wars is the winner.

5. Handheld Games - There are some handheld games with large screens - such as Wheel of Fortune and Big Screen Black Jack. The person can play against the machine.

6. Even Bingo! - Go to our Bingo Press and print two bingo cards. Instead of using a bingo cage, click HERE and print a set of calling cards. Print on heavy card stock paper and cut out along the solid lines. Shuffle the deck and play a game of bingo with just two people.

To play some games, you will also need a flat surface. Use the bed table in the room or take along a small tray table.

One-to-One Helps and Tips

• Who needs one-to-one activities?
• What can I do for one-to-one activities?
• Recording One-to-One Activities

Who needs one-to-one activities?

• Residents who are room-bound or bed-bound and cannot physically get out to regularly scheduled activities.
• Residents who are totally dependent or unresponsive (i.e., comatose or semi-comatose residents, residents on ventilators, stroke victims).
• Residents who do not benefit from traditional group activities (i.e., late stage Alzheimer's residents).
• Residents who choose not to participate in scheduled group activities.
• Residents who want one-to-one attention.

What can I do for one-to-one activities?

As you can see, there is a wide range of needs - from very independent, alert residents to the most severely impaired residents. Therefore, your program of one-to-one activities needs to be diverse.

We often get the question, "What can I do for one-to-one activities?" Naturally, the answer depends on the individual resident's abilities and interests. However, keep in mind that one-to-one activities are not a different activity category. (You can do exercise, spiritual programs, sensory activities, music, games, reading and even crafts on a one-to-one basis.) The activities might have to be adapted, but they can be done in most instances.

Recording One-to-One Activities

Use a log sheet to document your one-to-one visits (required in skilled care settings).

Click on the image for a one-to-one form that we have designed especially for you. Note: Keep a separate log sheet for each resident. Record the resident's plan and/or goals on the top of the sheet so that you can quickly see that your one-to-one activities are meeting the resident's needs.