Card Game for Late Stages Dementia

Create a set of cards:

• Draw basic geometric shapes in small pieces of paper (large enough so they can be seen clearly)
• triangles, circles, squares
• Color them: each shape should have a specific color (this is the first/ introductory set of cards)
• red triangles, purple circles, blue squares
• Create some more with mixed colors (this set contains more cards, and it is the main one), some of which are smaller, and others larger 

Start off with an easy round: 

• presents the first set of cards, and ask the person to name the shapes, and the colors
• then ask the person to categorize the cards- based both on the shape and on the color
• repeat this round until the coordinator is certain the person is comfortable enough 

Then begin the game:

• present the person with the larger set of cards
• this time ask him/ her to categorize them based on their shape alone (which will be more tricky since the same shape may appear in all three colors in the cards): triangles, circles, squares
• after he.she is done, ask him/ her to create a new categorization, based on color this time: red, purple, and blue
• finally, ask the person to categorize based on size: large or small shapes

The game can be repeated in subsequent rounds, each time 'faster and faster'- to create further motivation. 

If this may be too easy for the person, more shapes and colors can be added. 

The game focuses on the ability to categorize, and specifically on the mental task where the person is asked to continuously switch categories. 

Fun, and stimulating!