This fun and simple game is great for seniors including people living with dementia. Includes well known sayings, idioms and proverbs that they will remember from their past.
This is one of many free activities.
Golden Carers has 1000s of activities and resources for senior care.

This is a wonderful and simple game for the elderly.

Thanks to Lauren, Pat & members of the Golden Carers Facebook Group for this fun game idea!

This is a matching game that includes well known sayings, idioms and proverbs that seniors will remember from their past. This can lead to lovely reminiscing and conversation.

This game can easily be adjusted to suit different abilities and is suitable for people living with dementia..

Preparation:

  • Download the templates and laminate for endurance.
  • Cut each saying or proverb in half or just leave the last word off depending on the abilities of your clients.

Instructions:

  • Gather a small group of clients to play the game.
  • Hand out the cards to players
  • Have players take turns reading out a card and then others will look through and call out the answer.
  • Reminisce about the meaning of each saying!

Variations:

  • Clients can help sort out the sayings that are scattered on a table together
  • Magnetic strips could be put on them so they can be used on a white board.
  • Create other versions of this game using: famous song titles, famous couples, old nursery rhymes etc!

Files included:

Download Image

100 Proverbs & Sayings

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Comments   Post a Comment

Lee 26th Aug 2024
I made cards with half the saying in 'normal' text and the rest of the saying on a separate card in italics. I put my community 'cognitive stimulation therapy' group into two teams and asked each team to work together to match their cards to get the full proverb. Once all were matched, team members took turns to read out the proverb, then a discussion about the meaning of the proverb was had. My participants seemed to enjoy the exercise and conversation.
Maya 21st Mar 2024 Student Allied And Health
I am a student at TAFE and my Teacher Anne told us about this page. I really like the resources you have here - I can see a few that I think not only can be use with elderly but also can be use with children and young adult too. This is great!
I signed up but will finalise my membership soon.
Susan 22nd Mar 2024 Activity Director
Hi Maya
I agree that this site could be used for children, young adults, and people with disabilities
I know you will enjoy many of the activities offered
Talita 25th Mar 2024
Thanks so much for your feedback Maya x
Diana 30th Mar 2023 Center Manager
I printed this out ages ago and finally got around to using it. I did not use all of the lines, but did cut them and then taped them on the poster boards I had laying around.
The other halves are in a basket near the boards, but for my senior center this worked best as an independent activity.

Much of my programming is to stimulate them in conversation since they don't wish to "play". However, they are masters of coffee and conversation before lunch.

My current group of seniors comes in about 30-45 minutes before lunch is served and leaves as soon as they put down their forks. It makes activity planning a challenge.

In the mean time we adapt and overcome the challenges and keep trying to reach our seniors where they are and respect their right to refuse.
Susan 30th Mar 2023 Activity Director
Hi Diane
It sounds like you’re doing a great job
Thank you for sharing
Sandra 5th Jul 2022
I love the finish the proverbs/saying game. I would like to run this game at an independent community. If I laminate the sayings, cut off the "answer", pass out the cards, then does the person with the answer raise their hand or do all the seniors yell out the answer. Please explain more in detail how this is played.
Thanks!!!!!
Diana 25th Jun 2023 Center Manager
Really you can make up your own rules to fit your needs. Toss them in a bowl and let the compete to see who can assemble them the quickest.
Use it as a matching game to match them on the table individually.
Have them find their other half in a mix and mingle. You could add a twist and have them attached to their back and let the room try to help each person find their other half, especially if its a singles mixer.

Andrea 5th Aug 2020 Administrator
My residents absolutely adored this activity! I wasn't sure if they would enjoy it but they definitely did. We have some visually impaired residents so I read the first part of the phrase/saying out loud and they finished it. I was very impressed with how many they knew!
Talita 7th Aug 2020
Thanks so much for your feedback Andrea!
Francine Ector 28th Jun 2020
I've recently became an Activity Director and was told about this site when I was taking the MEPAP courses. I LOVE IT!!!! It is so helpful especially now with the residents not allowed visitors and can't go anywhere. I'll be a member soon. Can't wait to see what fun things you have to offer.
Talita 28th Jun 2020
Thanks so much for your feedback Francine, we apprciate it so much! We look forward to having you join the community! All the best x
Nesha 19th Mar 2019 Activities Coordinator
My residents adore sayings quizzes. I can do it 3 times a day and they don't get bored. They are always so proud of how well they do.
I've even found that some don't join in at first but after being around the quiz a few times they start to join in and answer more every time.
Leona Schultz 7th Feb 2019
have noticed that my sister has started showing early signs of dementia . I also sit with a 92 yr old who has mid alzheimer's and I'm looking for activities to help them both. I've been doing painting, and clay work and puzzles, but I'm starting to run out of ideas.
Talita 8th Feb 2019
Hi Leona, maybe you can use some activities from these articles:

20 Practical Activities for People Living with Alzheimer's Disease
https://www.goldencarers.com/20-practical-activities-for-people-living-with-alzheimers-disease/3778/

10 Spiritual Activities for People Living with Alzheimer's Disease
https://www.goldencarers.com/10-spiritual-activities-for-people-with-alzheimers-disease/4271/
Elizabeth Davis 11th Jan 2019
Just started my second career as an activation aide. Feeling grateful for the opportunity. Love these suggestions, my "peeps" get very excited dare I say competitive with these sorts of activities. Thank you so much.
Talita 12th Jan 2019
Thanks Elizabeth, all the best!
Margaret 24th Jul 2018 Senior Carer/activity Co-ordinator
I'm going to do these quizzes with my residents tomorrow they look lots of fun and I'm sure all will enjoy I will give you feed back once done.
thank you.
Talita 29th Jul 2018
Love to hear how it goes, thank Margaret!
Sonja 30th May 2018 Matron Dementia Unit
I am very impressed
Talita 4th Jun 2018
Thanks Sonja!
Solange 4th Apr 2018 Diversional Therapist
Hi Alison, your client has a great sense of humour!
Alison 3rd Apr 2018 Activities Team
I use these quiz/ sayings to fill in time at the end of organised events. My residents love these so much and I said to them that we had got to page 9 and who was going to remind me next week? One lady looked at me and said “does it really matter dear? We would have forgotten them by next week so you can start at the beginning again”
Alison 3rd Apr 2018 Activities Team
I use these quiz/ sayings to fill in time at the end of organised events. My residents love these so much and I said to them that we had got to page 9 and who was going to remind me next week? One lady looked at me and said “does it really matter dear? We would have forgotten them by next week so you can start at the beginning again”
Deb 20th Feb 2018
We have had an April Showers... (bring May flowers) Rainbow Party and used a version of this finish the sayings, idioms and proverbs game as part of the program. Our seniors just loved it!
Talita 26th Feb 2018
Sounds lovely Deb. What a great idea!
Sally 26th Jan 2018 Volunteer
Finish the Sayings - wow - our residents only got stumped by one - they were really hot and this activity was well received. Thank you Golden Carers - so glad I found you.
Talita 27th Jan 2018
Thank you so much for your feedback Sally, we appreciate it so much!
Lesley 18th Apr 2017 Recreation Therapist
Am dealing with some sundowners at the present so many thanks for your help. Have a trusty volunteer making some twiddlemuffs and sensory blankets.
This site certainly makes my life easier and when l am brain dead for new ideas can always find something here.
Talita 23rd Apr 2017
oh thank you for this lovely feedback Lesley! It is much appreciated.
Janine 21st Feb 2017 Lifestyle Coordinator
Just love how I can go into Golden carers and get so many ideas LOVE IT
Talita 27th Feb 2017
oh thank you Janine!
Sotiana 30th Nov 2016 Leisure &Lifestyle Officer
We are indeed blessed with this resources and honestly, how could I manage without Golden Carers!!!..amazing site.
Sandra 9th Nov 2016 Activities Coordinator
I did this with our residential and HACC clients yesterday and we had lots of fun. Thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Thankyou very much
Talita 14th Nov 2016
Thank you Sandra!
Gaylene 21st Sep 2016 Activities Co-ordinator
We did this. Went down a treat. Lots of laughter and chats. Thanks
Talita 23rd Sep 2016
Great to hear! Thanks for the feedback Gaylene.
Ann 20th Sep 2016 Activity Coordinator
We play a similar game pairing words such as bread/butter and horse/cart, dog/bone etc which is enjoyed. To help any that may struggle the pairs of words are printed in a few different colours so we can first match the colour then the paired words which allows different abilities to join in.
Talita 23rd Sep 2016
oh I like this. Adding in colours so more people are able to play is a great idea!
Kylie 6th Sep 2016 leisure and lifestyle officer
I did this and the clients had a ball. you should have seen the competitive streaks coming out when there was only a few left to pick !
Talita 12th Sep 2016
So good to hear! Thanks for your feedback!
Pamela 5th Sep 2016 Respite Carer
Have just joined the club and looking forward to some wonderful and interesting games for our lovely guests at the respite centre.
Talita 5th Sep 2016
Welcome Pamela!
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