3 Websites For Free Printable Crossword Puzzles For Seniors

According to a study by the Journal of the American Medical Association, seniors who continue to exercise their mental abilities through crossword puzzles and other brain games maintain a higher level of cognition.

Research by the National Library of Medicine concluded that solving crossword puzzles regularly may delay the onset of memory decline in the initial stage of dementia among the elderly.

Related Article: 10 Best crossword apps for Android and iOS

Here are 3 websites to get free printable crossword puzzles for seniors.

1. Washington Post Daily Crossword Puzzles

Washington Post brings new crossword puzzles every day that are free to play online or you can print them to play on paper.

To get the puzzles in printable form

• Go to the Washington Post’s Daily Crosswords section and click on a puzzle to print

• Next, click on the print option to print the puzzle

• You can print the blank puzzle or include the solution. You can also adjust the font size and black boxes (darker or lighter).

Click on Print after any changes.

The full collection of crossword puzzles is available in the “All Crossword” category along with options of individual categories of daily crossword, Sunday crossword, classic crossword, monthly music meta, etc.

Washington Post’s games section also has other free printable puzzles for seniors including Sudoku.

2. Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword

LA Times shares new crossword puzzles daily that you can access and print for free to play in your free time.

To get the puzzles

• Go to the Daily Crossword section of the LA Times and click on a puzzle to print

• Click on the Print option to print the puzzle

• Next, select Blank Puzzle or include Solution in the print. You can also adjust font size and intensity of block boxes (darker or lighter)

Finally, click on the Print option.

You can play the LA Times daily crossword puzzles on your computer or mobile or print them to play on paper.

The new puzzle is published every day at midnight Eastern Standard Time or 9 PM Pacific Standard Time.

You can refer to LA Times crossword FAQs for more information. LA Times offers free printable crosswords for seniors and many other games that you can enjoy.

3. Q.E.T.S

Q.E.T.S has a huge collection of large printable crosswords for seniors that are free for personal use, senior centers, medical facilities, classrooms etc.

You can download the Crossword puzzle PDF file that includes a puzzle grid, one or two definition pages and one solution page with a hidden message.

You can keep PDF files on your computer and print as many copies as you want.

Q.E.T.S has a large collection of puzzles from previous months. They also post new puzzles every month.

Download & Print crossword puzzles from Q.E.T.S

Bonus Resource – CrossWords.net

CrossWords.net offers free unlimited crossword puzzles to print and play. They share 7 new puzzles daily which means a new puzzle every few hours.

This is the best option to get easy crossword puzzles for the elderly in printable form.

Each puzzle page comes with the option to directly print the puzzle or you can use the download option to save it in PDF format for printing later.

Print OnlineCrosswords.net Daily Crosswords Puzzles for Free

5 Benefits of Solving Crossword Puzzles for the Elderly

1. Fun Activity

It is a fun and therapeutic activity when you feel bored. There is a wide range of free printable crossword puzzles for seniors. You only need a pen and a printed version of the puzzle to start.

2. Brain Exercise

As the Saying goes, “if you do not use it, you may lose it”. Solving puzzles is a way to stimulate the brain.

Crossword puzzles develop memory skills and problem-solving abilities that may help in daily life decisions like remembering the directions or the ability to focus on the desired task.

Here are some other brain games and puzzles to keep you mentally active and sharp.

• 12 iPad brain games for seniors
• 15 Word game apps for seniors
• Printable Trivia questions with answers
• 5 Best jigsaw puzzle apps for iPad

3. Relieve the Stress

By focusing on the puzzle in hand, you can turn off the noise in your head and relax your mind. This is a way to reduce stress and improve mood.

4. Increase Your Knowledge

Crossword puzzles include difficult words that force you to consult a dictionary or search on the internet.

As a result, you improve your vocabulary and increase your knowledge over time.

seniors end up learning new things about a variety of topics including science, entertainment, history, etc.

5. Sense of Accomplishment

Solving a crossword puzzle is a fun activity but it requires some work and you may feel lost and frustrated sometimes.

Once you figure out the puzzle and succeed in solving it, you feel a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.