There’s something special about sports in the fall.
Sunday afternoons are filled with football. The baseball playoffs bring the excitement of October. High school stadium lights illuminate Friday nights across the Lehigh Valley. College football rivalries return, and families gather around televisions to cheer for their favorite teams.
For many older adults, sports have been part of their lives for decades. They remember watching games with their fathers, playing Little League, coaching their children’s teams, or celebrating unforgettable victories.
For someone living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, these experiences can offer something more meaningful than entertainment.
Sports can become a bridge to memories, relationships, personal identity, and moments of joy.
The Games May Be Forgotten, but the Feelings Can Remain
Imagine sitting beside your father as the Philadelphia Eagles take the field.
He might not remember who played last week. He may have trouble following the score or understanding why the referee threw a penalty flag.
But when the crowd begins singing “Fly, Eagles Fly,” something changes.
He smiles. Perhaps he starts singing along. Maybe he remembers attending a game at Veterans Stadium or watching the Eagles with his own father.
Dementia affects different types of memory in different ways. While recent events may become difficult to recall, older memories and familiar emotional associations can sometimes remain accessible.
The sounds of a cheering crowd, the sight of a familiar uniform, or the opening notes of a team’s fight song may spark recognition and connection.
The goal isn’t to help someone remember the final score.
It’s to enjoy the experience together.
The Legends Who Never Grow Old
For today’s older adults, the sports heroes of their youth are often unforgettable.
Baseball fans may remember Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, or Philadelphia Phillies legends Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton.
Football fans might recall Johnny Unitas, Vince Lombardi, Chuck Bednarik, or the great Pittsburgh Steelers teams of the 1970s.
For basketball enthusiasts, names like Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Julius Erving, and Larry Bird may bring back memories of unforgettable games.
These athletes represent more than statistics.
They connect people to particular periods of their lives.
Ask Dad who his favorite baseball player was growing up. Show Mom a photograph of an old Phillies uniform. Watch highlights of a championship game from decades ago.
You may discover stories you’ve never heard—or enjoy hearing familiar ones again.
And don’t worry if the details aren’t quite right. Correcting dates, scores, or players isn’t nearly as important as enjoying the conversation.
Remembering the Athlete, Coach, or Parent They Once Were
Not everyone was a professional sports fan. Some older adults have even stronger memories of their own experiences.
Perhaps Grandpa played football at Emmaus High School. Maybe Grandma was a talented basketball player. Dad coached Little League for 15 years, or Mom never missed one of her children’s soccer games.
Throughout the Lehigh Valley, communities such as Emmaus, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, and Macungie have long celebrated school athletics and youth sports.
For someone living with dementia, these experiences can remain an important part of personal identity.
Bring out an old varsity jacket.
Look through yearbooks.
Find photographs of the Little League team Dad coached.
Ask about the championship game, the coach who inspired them, or the friendships they developed.
A person who struggles to remember what happened yesterday may still have wonderful stories about a touchdown scored 60 years ago.
And even when those stories become difficult to tell, the photographs and familiar objects may still provide comfort.
Watching Sports Together Is About More Than Watching
One of the simplest activities families can share is watching a game together.
But it’s important to adapt the experience to the person living with dementia.
A full three-hour football game may be too long. Loud commentary, commercials, and rapidly changing camera angles may become confusing or overwhelming.
Instead, try watching a quarter of football or a few innings of baseball.
Keep the volume comfortable.
Offer familiar snacks.
Explain what’s happening only when helpful.
Celebrate a touchdown or home run together.
If your loved one loses interest, that’s perfectly fine.
Sometimes simply sitting together while a game plays in the background can provide a comforting sense of familiarity.
For someone who spent decades watching Sunday football with family, the routine itself may be as meaningful as the game.
Bringing the Game Home
Families can also create sports-themed activities that don’t require attending a stadium.
Consider looking through old baseball cards, displaying a favorite team pennant, tossing a soft foam football, or sorting photographs of famous athletes.
A former coach might enjoy explaining how to throw a baseball or talking about the importance of teamwork. Someone who played basketball might enjoy holding a basketball or watching highlights of their favorite team.
The key is to emphasize participation and enjoyment rather than performance.
Fall Sports Are a Lehigh Valley Tradition
Here in the Lehigh Valley, sports have always brought communities together.
From Emmaus Hornets football to the longstanding rivalry between Easton and Phillipsburg, local athletics are woven into generations of family memories.
The familiar excitement of Friday night football can offer wonderful opportunities for reminiscence.
Families might drive past an old high school stadium, look through photographs of local teams, or watch a televised game together.
For those who once coached or played, these experiences can reinforce something especially important: a sense of who they are.
A person living with dementia is still a former athlete, coach, teammate, parent, and lifelong fan.
Those identities deserve to be celebrated.
More Than a Scoreboard
Research on reminiscence suggests that familiar photographs, music, objects, and conversations can support emotional wellbeing and strengthen connections for people living with dementia.
Sports offer families a natural way to create those experiences.
And perhaps the greatest benefit isn’t remembering the past at all.
It’s sharing something meaningful in the present.
At South Mountain Memory Care in Emmaus, we understand that meaningful engagement begins with knowing the individual—their history, interests, favorite activities, and lifelong passions.
Whether someone loves football, baseball, basketball, or simply remembers cheering for their children from the sidelines, those experiences remain an important part of their story.
So this fall, put on the game.
Find that old baseball glove.
Talk about the players who became childhood heroes.
And if Dad tells you once again about the winning touchdown he scored in high school, listen as though you’re hearing it for the first time.
Because sometimes the most important victory isn’t on the scoreboard. It’s the smile, the conversation, and the connection you share.
Experience Personalized Memory Care at South Mountain
If someone you love is living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, we invite you to discover how South Mountain Memory Care helps residents enjoy meaningful experiences that reflect their individual interests and histories.
Our small-house approach in Emmaus emphasizes comfort, dignity, personalized attention, and opportunities for connection.
Schedule a personal tour of South Mountain Memory Care to learn how we support residents and families throughout the dementia journey.
Visit southmountainmemorycare.com or call 610-965-7662.
