Creating a Card Game to Help Alzheimer’s Patients: My Story

Alzheimer’s is a disease that takes so much away - memories, independence, and connection, but for me, it gave me a purpose. When my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, I felt powerless watching her struggle with memory loss. I wanted to get involved, not just for her, but also for others facing the same challenges. That’s how I came up with the idea of creating a card game specifically designed to help Alzheimer’s patients preserve their memory. 

My grandmother has always been obsessed with capturing moments through photography. Every visit with her meant countless pictures, photos of laughter, celebrations, and everyday moments she never wanted to forget. These photos became more than just images, they were a way to preserve our shared experiences. This inspired me to make my memory card game deeply personal, using real pictures of real memories on each card. By incorporating familiar faces and meaningful moments, I hoped to create a game that wouldn’t just exercise memory but would also spark joy, recognition and connection,

I knew the game had to be simple yet effective. Alzheimer’s patients can struggle with complex rules, so I focused on creating something intuitive and engaging, encouraging memory recall in a low-pressure, enjoyable way. Each card is designed to spark conversation, whether it’s identifying a picture, completing a sentence, or sharing a memory. This game started off as a way to help my grandmother, but it has grown into something much bigger. If you have a loved one with Alzheimer’s, I encourage you to find ways to engage with them through Memory Lane Cards!