A quiz, such as this wine quiz, can be a good activity for elderly people with dementia, provided you choose a theme that all or almost all very elderly participants know something about. A second condition for a successful quiz is that the level of this question and answer game is tailored to the knowledge level of people with, for example, Alzheimer’s. A third condition is that it must in principle be a positive subject: that motivates participation in the quiz and ensures relaxation. A fourth condition is that the quiz leader has prepared well. If all these conditions are met, then an activity can be performed that is relaxing and enjoyable. And as a bonus: with the quiz you stimulate the reduced memory of seniors who suffer from dementia as a result of, for example, Alzheimer’s disease.

Preparing a wine quiz for people with dementia

Of course, as a quizmaster you prepare your quiz about wine well! This means that you ensure that:

• You have a wine Q&A list
• You know who in your group cannot or does not want to drink wine or, better yet, alcohol
• You ensure that there is grape juice and white and/or red wine
• You buy grapes, preferably in more than one color
• The grapes have no seeds
• The grapes have been washed
• You have bowls to put the grapes in for each participant
• You have, preferably suitable, paper napkins so that the wine quiz participants can wipe their fingers and their mouths
• In addition to loose grapes, you also have a bunch of grapes to show (you can wash and pick them on site or ask them to help)
• You have wine glasses and juice glasses
• You have an empty wine bottle and another random empty bottle
• You provide some attributes associated with drinking wine: a corkscrew, a wine cooler, a cork, perhaps a wine rack
• If possible, you have some images of, for example, grapes, wine, wine drinkers, or a vineyard
• You know how to vary questions for elderly people with dementia.
• You know how to prevent a quiz from becoming a competition, an exam or a memory test.

Tip:

Be aware that some people have bad experiences with alcohol! For example, a father or a husband or an adult child who drank too much or was or is even addicted. If necessary, ask nursing staff about this or, if you have permission, look at a client’s file. It may also be that some people do not drink alcohol on principle, for example because of their religion, regardless of whether it concerns wine, a beer or an innocent glass of eggnog in your eyes.

The wine quiz questions for elderly people with dementia

ripe blue grapes

1. What is wine made of?
2. What happens if you drink too much wine?
3. What colors of grapes are there?
4. What colors of wine are there?
5. What is a garden where grapes are grown called?
6. Complete this proverb: ‘Good wine needs…’?
7. What do you close a wine bottle with?
8. What is in wine that makes you drunk?
9. What is a group of grapes hanging from one branch called?
10. How were grapes crushed in the past?
11. How do people store wine bottles?
12. Should you drink wine cold?
13. Should you shake a wine bottle before use?
14. When should you prune a grape bush?
15. Which country(s) is/are famous for their wine?
16. Place two empty, different bottles (without label) on the table, one of which is a wine bottle, and ask: which bottle is a wine bottle?
17. Place two empty glasses on the table and ask which glass is a wine glass (for example, the second glass is a beer glass)?

Further details of the program in which the wine quiz is played with seniors with dementia:

• You can show some photos or images of wine, grapes, bunches of grapes, vineyards, etc. in advance
• You can take a break halfway through the quiz to eat some grapes
• And finally, you can serve some grape juice or a glass of red or white wine
• You can talk about, for example: drinking wine, tasting wine, at what age the elderly were allowed to start drinking in the past, whether they have ever been tipsy, etc.

Conclusion about playing a wine quiz with very elderly people who, for example, have Alzheimer’s

If, as a quiz leader, you are well prepared to hold a quiz for elderly people with dementia about wine, then it is an adult quiz topic that these seniors will certainly not experience as childish. Again and again, when choosing an activity for these elderly people, you must ensure that the activity is simple, but not childish; relaxing, but also stimulating. Then you as a quizmaster and these clients as participants will have a successful afternoon.

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