Let’s Focus on Puzzles

A diverting way to keep your mind active! Memory-friendly puzzle books for anyone with concentration challenges, due to stroke, dementia or other brain changes.

I love the idea of making puzzle books accessible to everyone, and I’ve done that in the past for beginner learners of English. For a dementia or stroke-challenged audience it was a little different. These puzzle fans may have good language skills, but face concentration and visual difficulties.

My goal was to use a range of familiar puzzle types (something for everyone!), with a dignified adult (not childish) look. However, the puzzles are in extra large print, with a spacious layout, more ‘bite-sized’ than usual, and hence more achievable.

For example, the Sudoku is 4 x 4 only, word searches are 5 words across and 5 down, crosswords are crossword boxes or clueless crosswords. Activity pages support fine motor skills, visual observation, memory skills, and logical thinking, plus engaging 7-question Quick Quizzes.

As always, there’s no mention of dementia or other illness on the cover or inside the books. In fact, they could be used by anyone who simply needs an easy relaxing activity after stroke or major surgery, as well as by someone with mild cognitive loss. The puzzle themes are positive and should appeal to older women and men. There are conversation and reminiscence prompts on many pages, to allow for sharing with a care partner.

Reviewers enjoyed the puzzles and the lack of struggle. (Actually, a few did find them a bit easy, which is why I recommend downloading the FREE mini-puzzle book, to try out the puzzles!)

90 pages, extra large font (23 to 25 point), large 8.5 x 11 inch size.