In this care home in Taipei, it's now also a form of therapy.

The residents here all have dementia and the centuries-old tile matching game offers the mental stimulation.

Mahjong is a kind of cognitive training for people with dementia.

They need to use their brain to think, to remember and to make decision of what would be the next step.

Dementia is a condition which sees a decline in a person's cognitive abilities, affecting their thinking behavior and memory.

In Taiwan, about one in 13 people over 65 have some form of dementia.

Over the age of 80, that figure grows to one in five.

Mahjong is a complex game of strategy, skill, memory and perception.

Not only do you have to increase your own chances of success, but you must study your opponents moves to prevent them from winning one.

The game involves 144 tiles and countless possible combinations, stimulating the brain in multiple ways.

It's not just Mahjong on offer in this care home, there are video games, handicrafts and another favorite Taiwanese pastime, karaoke.

(Speaking in Chinese) Singing can awaken their old memories.

We have a retro-style karaoke [system].

Many elderly people used to sing karaoke back in their day.

So we hope to set up an environment to remind them of when they used to sing karaoke.

In addition to offering mental and physical stimulation, care homes like these provide the elderly with valuable social time.

When people get older, their friends begin to pass away, and they have less contact with things.

When they come here they can learn things, and interact with many friends.

Young people like us can also talk to them, and experience new things.

With Taiwan expected to become a super aged society by next year, care homes like this one will play an even bigger role in making sure the elderly enter their twilight years with dignity.

Kris Ma and Reece Ayers for Taiwan Plus.