The Inspired Activity Director.
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Rolling into Fun: Bunco in Senior Living Facilities
Bunco, a game of dice, luck, and social interaction, has been a beloved pastime for generations. Its simplicity, coupled with the opportunity for socialization, makes it an ideal activity for senior living facilities. Here's how you can introduce Bunco into your community, ensuring it's both an engaging and smoothly run activity.
Scroll to the bottom for your Bunco score sheet printable.
What is Bunco?
Bunco is a social dice game involving 100% luck and zero skill, making it perfect for players of all levels. Played in teams of four, participants aim to roll specific numbers to earn points, with the ultimate goal of scoring the most points through several rounds of play. It's fast-paced, easy to learn, and a great way to foster camaraderie among residents.
Setting Up for Bunco
To play Bunco, you'll need:
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12 players (though this can be adjusted based on the size of your group)
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9 dice (three dice per table)
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Bell (to signify the beginning and end of each round)
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Pencil and score sheets for keeping track of points
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A cozy room with enough tables and chairs for all participants.
How to Play
Form Teams: Divide players into teams of four. You'll have three tables with one team per table. Each table competes against each other in turns.
Determine the Starting Point: Decide which table will be the "head" table - this is where the round begins and ends.
Gameplay
Players at each table take turns rolling the three dice, aiming to roll the number corresponding to the current round (e.g., rolling ones in round one, twos in round two).
Each time a player rolls the correct number, they score a point. Rolling three of the correct number at once scores a Bunco, earning 21 points instantly!
The round continues until the head table reaches a score threshold (usually 21 points), at which point they ring the bell to signal the end of the round.
Switch It Up: After each round, players switch seats or tables to mix up the teams, fostering interaction and new friendships.
Why Bunco Is Great for Senior Living Facilities
Accessibility: Bunco's simplicity makes it accessible to residents of all physical and cognitive abilities.
Socialization: It encourages interaction, laughter, and conversation, helping to combat loneliness and isolation.
Adaptability: The game's flexible rules and setup mean it can easily be adapted to fit the number of participants and the available space.
Cognitive Benefits: Though based on luck, the act of rolling dice and keeping score can help keep minds sharp.
So, that's it. Bunco is an awesome game to introduce to your senior living facility . Have some small prizes on hand to sweeten the pot! Let the good times roll, and may the best team win!
