Games to Bridge the Gap

Memories Squared is a modified word-bingo game developed by the nonprofit Myers Research Institute in Beachwood, Ohio. The game combines fill-in-the-blank challenges with cues for engaging people in conversation and reminiscence. "If you never finish the game but you've had a good time talking and connecting with the person, that's the whole point," said Cameron Camp, institute director and senior research scientist.

Camp also developed Reading Roundtable Stories for groups or families to read aloud together. Bourgeois recommends a series of "two-lap" books by Lydia Burdick, such as "The Sunshine on My Face." The books, also meant to be shared and read aloud, feature images of older adults engaged in familiar activities, such as watching television and dancing to music on the radio.

Marlene Sandhu, founder of Being With Being, consults with long-term-care facilities in the Washington area about how to best connect to residents with dementia.

"Pictures are great," she said, "but at some point two-dimensional images are not engaging enough. Rather than take a family wedding photo, take your wedding dress for them to hold." Sandhu is developing a new product that uses props to help people connect.

Back at Westminster at Lake Ridge, a group of residents gathered around a big screen for another popular activity -- the Wii video game simulating various sports. Lillian Warren, 95, who has mild memory loss and limited use of her left side following a stroke, was willing to have a go at bowling, an activity she used to enjoy. Even though she was a lifelong lefty, she moved the remote with her right hand to send a ball down the lane. A whoop went up around her. She rolled a strike. ·

Beth Baker is a frequent contributor to the Health section. Comments:health@washpost.com.