Keeping elderly residents entertained and engaged can be a challenge, especially when you’re filling in as the activities officer with no prior experience. As a full-time aged care nurse, I found myself in that exact position. Wanting to offer something fun, inclusive and different, I decided to create a bean bag toss game for the elderly.

Previously, I made a horse racing game that was a massive hit; it got almost every resident involved, laughing and cheering. So I was inspired to craft something that was just as interactive, but simpler to set up. This bean bag toss game was a big success, with residents competing for small prizes (mostly chocolates), smiling proudly every time their bean bag landed in a hole. This DIY project is easy, affordable, and made entirely from recycled materials, proving you don’t need a big budget to bring big joy.

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Bean Bag Toss Game For The Elderly

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Materials Needed

• Old wooden shelf or plywood board
• Scrap wood (I used pieces from a wine rack)
• Jigsaw
• Screws
• Drill and drill bits
• Masking tape
• Spray paint (black + bright colours)
• Permanent marker
• Clear lacquer spray
• Scrap fabric for bean bags
• Popcorn seeds or rice for filling
• Printer and paper
• Carbon paper

Building the Toss Board Frame

The base board came from an old TV unit shelf. For the frame and legs, I repurposed timber from a wine rack I had previously cut down for a piano bar project. I never throw out leftover wood—it always finds a purpose!

To make the frame:

• Cut four pieces to fit the board’s sides.
• Cut two shorter legs at a 90-degree angle.
• Pre-drill holes to avoid splitting the plywood when attaching side pieces.

To tilt the board at a playable angle, I added small angled wood offcuts underneath, screwing them in on the side edges.

Cutting the Holes

Instead of the traditional single-hole cornhole game, I wanted to increase success chances and boost confidence. I used a jigsaw to freehand three circular holes of various sizes, giving residents a better chance at scoring. Perfect circles weren’t necessary—the goal was accessibility and fun, not precision.

Painting and Decorating

First, I spray-painted the board black to create a solid base. Using masking tape, I marked off target zones, then painted each hole with a bright colour to make it visually engaging.

Since I didn’t have a large stencil, I printed out numbers at home. With carbon paper under each printout, I traced the outlines directly onto the board.

I coloured the numbers with a permanent marker (because I ran out of black paint), then sealed everything with clear lacquer spray.

Surprisingly, the lacquer reacted with the marker and created a beautiful crackle effect. You can see this detail better by zooming into the main image. I loved the finish so much, I might explore this effect in future projects!

This project cost me next to nothing, just the price of the spray paint. Everything else came from leftover materials in my shed. It’s incredibly rewarding to see something so simple bring joy to our residents. Games like these don’t just entertain, they help improve hand-eye coordination, promote light physical activity, and encourage social connection.

I hope this inspires you to create your own version for aged care centres, community groups or even family gatherings!

More game ideas for the elderly

I also made this group horse racing game from mainly recycled materials.

This target shooting game was a huge hit with the residents.

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