Free printable dementia activities: large-print conversation cards

What's in the free file

• 12 question cards on two pages, six to a page. Each card has its theme at the top, one open question in 24 point type, and a smaller follow-up for when the story slows down ("Who lived next door?").
• Two cards from each of six themes: childhood, home and family, work, holidays and seasons, music and movies, food and travel.
• Card size: 92 by 74 mm (about 3.6 by 2.9 inches), the same size on US Letter and A4.
• The questions ask about the person's life or their opinion: half begin "Tell me about...", and the rest ask things like "Which season do you like best, and why?". No card asks "Do you remember...?".
• Page 3: how to use the cards, a short guide for family and visitors.
• Nothing to fill in, nothing to score.

Who it's for

An adult living with dementia, and the family, friends or visitors who sit with them. A card gives a grandchild, a neighbor or a new aide a place to start. For ideas that need no paper, see our guide to dementia activities at home.

Dementia worksheets: read this first

Many people arrive here after searching for free printable dementia worksheets in PDF. We'll be plain: our free file is not a worksheet.

A worksheet has blanks to fill and answers to get right. To an adult, that can look like schoolwork, and a page with right answers is a page you can get wrong. The Alzheimer's Association's advice on activities is to focus on enjoyment, not achievement. People living with dementia who helped write the DEEP guide to printed information asked for writing aimed at an adult audience, and said cartoons can come across as talking down.

So it depends on the person. If they have always done the crossword or a word search, a large-print puzzle is a fine choice, offered and never assigned. If they never liked puzzles, there is no reason to start now.

A conversation card has nothing to write. One person reads the question, and the other tells a story, points, nods or passes.

How to print the cards for older eyes

1. Print at "Actual size" (100%), not "Fit to page", so the type stays full size. Black and white is fine.
2. Use matte white or cream cardstock. The American Council of the Blind's large print guidelines call for a matte or dull paper finish to cut glare.
3. Know the type size. Those guidelines set 18 point as the base for large print. The questions on our cards are 24 point.
4. Skip colored or patterned paper. It lowers the contrast.
5. Cut along the dashed lines to make 12 cards.
6. If you laminate, choose matte pouches. A glossy pouch can shine under a lamp, which undoes the matte paper. Plain cardstock, reprinted when worn, is fine too.

How do you choose a card?

• Start with what you know about them: their work, where they grew up, what they loved doing. You know the person best.
• Leave out sore subjects. A card about family or a first job won't suit every person on every day.
• One card at a time. Offer one, or a choice of two. A whole stack is a lot to take in.
• Favorites can come back. The same card twice in a week is fine.

How to use a card in a conversation

1. Pick a quiet spot with good light. Turn off the TV or radio. Sit where light falls on the card without glare.
2. Check that glasses and hearing aids are on.
3. Sit beside the person or at eye level, and hold the card where you can both see it.
4. Share something of your own first: "My first job was at a bakery." The Alzheimer Society of B.C.'s conversation handout uses the same pattern: share, then ask.
5. Read the large question, then wait. One question at a time, with plenty of time to answer. Keep the follow-up for when the story slows down.
6. Follow the story wherever it goes. Don't correct names or dates.
7. If words are hard to find, ask a yes or no question: "Did you like that job?" A nod or a smile is an answer.
8. Stop while it's going well. When attention fades, put the card away and try another day.

If you are nervous about saying the wrong thing, you don't need to steer. Listen, nod, and say what you enjoyed about the story.

What is in the full set?

The free file is a sample of 12 questions. The full set, Conversation Cards for Reminiscing, has 60 question cards, 10 in each of the six themes and each with a follow-up, plus 12 picture cards to talk about (family, a friendly hello, walks, home, cars, coffee, a good meal, TV, music, pets, gardens and travel), blank cards to type your own questions onto, and a one-page guide for visitors. The picture cards that show people come in five skin tones.

Frequently asked questions

What are good free printable activities for someone living with dementia?

Pages made for adults, in large print, with one thing to do per page. Conversation cards, a large-print word search for someone who has always liked puzzles, and adult coloring pages are common choices.

What if a card brings up a sad memory?

Don't rush past it. The Family Caregiver Alliance suggests connecting with the feeling first ("I see you're feeling sad") and then changing the subject or the setting. Put that card aside for next time. If sadness or distress comes up often, tell the person's care team.

What if they tell the same story every time?

That's fine. The Alzheimer Society of B.C.'s advice is to let the person enjoy telling it again. Listen as if it's new, and ask one small follow-up question.

Can grandchildren and visitors use the cards?

Yes. Read the question, listen, and don't quiz. Show a child two rules first: one question at a time, and no correcting. Page 3 of the free file is a short guide written for visitors.

What if the person doesn't talk much anymore?

You can do the talking. Tell a short story of your own about the card's topic, and ask a yes or no question now and then. A look, a smile or a hand on the card is taking part. For questions about changes in speech, ask the person's care team or speech-language pathologist.