Senior Activities (Free Large Print Printables)

Who these are for

Activity directors at assisted living and senior centers run bingo several times a week and need cards residents can actually read. The decade bingo pages print one card per page in the largest text the generator makes, with a caller sheet at the end, and the 75-ball cards do the same once Large print is ticked.

Families visiting a parent or grandparent often want something to do together that is not television. A remember-when word search or a bingo card from the decade they grew up in gives everyone something to talk about, and a grandchild can be the caller. Volunteers who visit weekly can print a fresh set each time, with no account and no cost.

Large print in three clicks

Every page here is already set up for low vision. From the main generator, three settings do the work:

1. Open Options under the word list.
2. Tick Large print. On bingo it locks one card per page with the biggest text and heavy black lines; on a word search it enlarges the grid letters and the word list. Choose 4 x 4 for the widest word squares.
3. Leave Ink saver off so the print stays solid black, and print on white or cream paper.

The American Printing House for the Blind says print counts as large print from 18 point type. A short square on a 4 by 4 card with Large print ticked comes out at up to 48 point, and the numbers on a 75-ball card are bigger still.

Run bingo on the TV

Plug a laptop into the lounge television, open the online bingo caller and press Projector mode. Each call fills the screen in white on green, the called board stays visible for anyone who missed a number, and the five most recent calls sit underneath. Tick Read each call aloud and the computer says the number for you, or turn on Auto-call at a slow pace when you need your hands free. It runs numbers and every word list on this site, including the decade bingo.

Keeping it kind

A good senior activity is slow, social and free of pressure. Call each square twice, ask a question about it, and let the stories run. For residents living with memory loss, the Alzheimer's Association advises focusing on enjoyment rather than achievement, which in bingo terms means the conversation matters more than the card.