Still Part of the Team: How sport helps seniors with dementia hold onto who they are

A dementia diagnosis can take away a lot from a person. But something it can never erase are the years someone spends cheering for their favorite team, wearing their colors, or knowing every player’s name by heart. Those are things that become a core part of who someone is, and they bring a sense of belonging that is tough to find elsewhere. That does not fade away after a dementia diagnosis.

Sports have been a centuries-long way to bring people together. Being part of a club, rooting for a team that feels like a family, and the camaraderie and exciting rivalry that comes with being a fan are all part of what shapes someone’s identity.

In this article, we explore why sport plays such an important role in preserving identity for people with dementia, and we share simple, practical sport activities for dementia caregivers to bring that “part-of-the-team” feeling back into the care home every day.

Why does sport matter beyond exercise for people with dementia?

When we think about sports, we tend to think about the body—movement, coordination, dexterity, staying active. But for people living with dementia, the real value of sport goes far beyond that. Sport lets those with dementia still be someone. Still be who they always were.

In a 2022 study, researchers investigated how a sports group for people with dementia could contribute to their well-being. The study found that being part of a sports group helped seniors with dementia not only stay physically active, but also continue to live full, connected social lives. Sports and being part of the club helped them hold onto their sense of self, even as other parts of their lives changed. Why? Because the role of teammate and supporter feels familiar; it’s one they’ve known their entire lives.

Whether it’s actively playing or watching from the sidelines, sports help create shared moments that can make the sense of connection and togetherness grow deeper.

What does sport-based belonging look like in dementia care?

Belonging through sport doesn’t happen by accident; it takes a care team noticing what someone loved and finding a way to bring it back in. That can mean reconnecting with an old football club, adapting a sport to make it much more accessible, or using sport activities as a way into memory. Here’s what that looks like when a care team builds it in:

Reconnecting with a lifelong team

Just because someone can no longer go to a stadium or watch a match from the pub doesn’t mean the love for their team isn’t there anymore. For someone who followed the same club for sixty years or longer, that connection to a team is often one of the clearest and strongest memories left. Inviting a local team to visit, watching a match together in team colors, or wearing their team’s jersey can help tap into a memory that’s already there.

Adapting sports for dementia residents with lower mobility

Full, complex mobility isn’t a requirement to enjoy sports. With simple adaptations, everyone in the care home can join in for a friendly match. Think seated football sessions, a round of balloon volleyball, or walking basketball. The feeling of being part of the game matters much more than the physical intensity of it.

Use sport to spark old memories

Sometimes the strongest connections around sports don’t happen by playing, but by reminiscing. An old team photo, a ticket stub from a match, or a story about “that day we won the cup” — these can bring someone right back into a memory that still feels like it happened just yesterday.

Small, everyday ways to bring that feeling back

None of the above needs an event, a contact, or a 10-step plan. Encouraging that sense of belonging and team spirit doesn’t need to be complicated. Some of the simplest ways to bring it into daily care don’t take much at all:

• Wear the colors: A scarf, a cap or maybe a jersey. Inviting residents to wear their team’s gear can create a fun environment and bring that team spirit back.
• Watch a match together: If there’s a match airing on TV, gather a group of residents and invite them to watch it together. You can even decorate the living room and bring out some snacks and drinks. If you prefer something more casual, simply letting the match play in the background during other activities can also be a good idea.
• Play the sounds: A team chant, a crowd roar, or a playlist with popular sports anthems can evoke great memories and create a fun atmosphere without needing to make big plans.

Tip: Save our Match Day Anthems playlist and turn up the team spirit for your residents!

How does the Tovertafel support sport-based belonging in seniors with dementia?

Technology can also help caregivers keep team spirit alive. Many of our Tovertafel games for seniors with dementia recreate exactly what makes sport so meaningful: forming teams, competing side by side, cheering each other on, and playing for the win together. From a match on our Soccer game to more competitive games like Molehunt, that same feeling comes through.

Rather than a replacement for a real club or an old rivalry, Tovertafel games are another way to bring that “part of the team” feeling back into an ordinary afternoon, on the days a scarf or a photo aren’t quite enough on their own.

Conclusion

Sports and identity are closely connected, and preserving identity is part of preserving dignity in dementia care. Few things reach that as naturally as the familiar team spirit that has stayed with so many residents their whole lives.

Sometimes all it takes to bring that back is a scarf, a photo, a bit of competition, or an old anthem sung together. Small things like these can go a long way in helping someone still feel like themselves.

Curious how the Tovertafel can help? Our games are built to spark exactly this kind of belonging. Get in touch with us and we’ll help you bring the Tovertafel magic into your facility.