This free senior activity pack puts a whole afternoon of large print activities for seniors into one PDF: four Memory Lane bingo cards with a caller list, two large print word searches with answer keys, and a Finish the Saying page with 12 well-known sayings and six gentle conversation starters. Print it on US Letter or A4, hand out the pages, and let the activities set an easy pace for talking and remembering together.
In short: press Download, print one bingo card per player and the caller list for yourself, then use the word searches and sayings as quiet or group activities. Every page uses big, bold type, words in the word searches run only across and down, and there is no account or sign-up.
What is in the senior activity pack (PDF)
The pack has 12 pages. Click a picture to open the PDF, or use the buttons at the top of the page for US Letter or A4.
Who the pack is for
The activities are written for older adults who enjoy a familiar game and a chat: a family visit, a club afternoon, a library session or a group led by activity staff. The bingo squares use everyday things from earlier decades, such as a rotary phone, a steam train or a milk bottle, because those words invite a story. Nothing in the pack is a test, and every page works just as well done together as alone. The National Institute on Aging notes that hobbies and social activities can help older adults stay well; see Participating in Activities You Enjoy As You Age.
How to run a session with the pack
- Start with bingo. Give each player one of the four cards and a big marker or large counters. Read the caller list slowly, say each item twice and pause for anyone who has a story about it. Four in a row, across, down or corner to corner, wins.
- Move to a word search. The garden and kitchen puzzles each hide 10 words in a 10 by 10 grid. Words only run across and down, so nobody has to read backwards or diagonally.
- Finish with the sayings. Read the start of each saying aloud and let the group call out the ending. It is a good way to bring everyone back together before tea.
- Use the conversation starters. The six questions on page 12, such as where someone went on a first holiday, work well with one or two people at a time.
Tips for large print activities for seniors
- Print at 100 percent scale, not fit to page, so the letters stay as large as they were designed.
- Good light and a firm surface, such as a tray or clipboard, help as much as the size of the print.
- Let the game slow down for stories. In a group, the conversation matters more than who wins.
- Never correct a memory or ask someone to prove they remember. Every answer is welcome.
Make more cards and puzzles
Four bingo cards suit a small table. For a bigger group, the bingo for seniors card maker prints as many different Memory Lane cards as you need, one large card per page. To make a word search with words your group knows, such as family names, local places or a favourite season, use the free word search generator and choose large print or an easy-to-read font such as Lexend or OpenDyslexic. The how to play bingo guide explains the rules for a new caller.
Frequently asked questions
8 quick answers
Is the senior activity pack free?
Yes. You can download and print it without an account or payment. Please share a link to this page rather than the PDF file, and do not sell it. The printable license has the details.
How large is the print?
The bingo squares use 24 point bold text, the word search letters are about 23 point bold, and the sayings are 19 point bold. That is roughly two to three times the size of a normal printed page.
Are the bingo cards different from each other?
Yes. Each of the four cards has 16 of the 24 items on the caller list, in a different mix, so players do not all win at once.
Do the word searches have answer keys?
Yes. Each puzzle is followed by its answer key, with every word shaded in the grid.
Can I print it on A4 paper?
Yes. There is a US Letter PDF and an A4 PDF, laid out for each paper size.
Is this a therapy?
No. It is a set of social activities and conversation starters. It makes no health claims.
In what order should I use these printable activities for seniors?
Start with bingo, reading the caller list slowly. Move to a word search as a quieter activity, then finish with the sayings, letting the group call out each ending. The conversation starters work well with one or two people at a time.
Why do the words in this large print word search for seniors run only across and down?
So that nobody has to read backwards or diagonally. The pack has two puzzles, one about the garden and one about the kitchen, and each hides 10 words in a 10 by 10 grid, followed by an answer key.
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