I wouldn't assume that somebody 78 would have trouble with strategy games. My mom is 84 and still "whups our a$$es" at Scrabble. But if you have several options, and games that can be played and enjoyed at many levels, then that sounds like a good idea. Maybe team-play of Trivial Pursuit? Team up you MIL with a teenager and the knowledge combination may be unbeatable to two middle-aged folks. I also second (or third, or fourth) the photo-talk idea. I'm trying to do that with my mom for an evening each time I visit now.