Games for Geri!
When selecting games with the just right amount of challenge, age is commonly used to help identify appropriate game recommendations. We see it on almost every game box, for ages 3 and up, ages 8 and up. I am here to represent the “and up” population. As adults we see the benefits of providing children with the opportunity to game. We understand the multiple benefits such as developing fine motor coordination, problem solving, attention, memory, recall, and social interaction skills. However, most people do not realize that for the same reasons we provide children with the opportunities to game is the very reason why we should be promoting gaming for our elders. Spielbound’s Senior Outreach programming is geared at educating the public including health professionals, and seniors about the benefits of geriatric gaming. Spielbound’s Senior Outreach is also interested in developing ways to provide opportunities for seniors of all ages and abilities to participate in games to promote overall quality of life.
There is a great amount of research that states continued engagement in leisure activities such as games decreases your risk of developing dementia. There are even several research studies that look at how brain activity is impacted in those who regularly participated in cognitively stimulating leisure activities. As an occupational therapist who is specializing in gerontology this topic is very intriguing to me. I enjoy discussing geriatric gaming with other health professionals and game enthusiasts, and I have developed my own hypothesis related to the benefits of geriatric gaming. I believe that continued engagement in a task the requires use of cognitive, physical, social, and emotional components will increase the person’s overall quality of life and reduce symptoms related to dementia or cognitive decline. This hypothesis has been used as a catalyst to start program development for Spielbound’s Senior Outreach.
Since the New Year Spielbound’s senior outreach has hosted a couple events in the community to promote geriatric gaming. Speilbound’s senior outreach has provided an educational lunch and learn to occupational, physical, speech, and recreation therapists at a Hillcrest Health and Rehab. In addition to partnering with UNMC’s geriatric interdisciplinary organization to host a “SeniorsPlay” event at Hillcrest Grand Lodge. Spielbound’s Senior Outreach is planning on meeting with Creighton University’s Occupational Therapy Creative Occupations Club later this month. Games for Geri Presentations are formatted to provide education on the different types of games, research on the importance of continued participation in gaming, how to adapt and select appropriate games based on the elders abilities, and providing education about the variety of opportunities that Speilbound has to offer.
Spielbound’s senior outreach is looking forward to developing partnerships with local senior centers, health science programs to assist in promoting continued participation in games. Spielbound is currently offering Games for Geri presentations and is willing to partner with facilities or schools in providing a variety of games to implement SeniorPlay events. If you have any questions or would like to set up an event please contact [email protected].
- Kaitlyn O'Leary OTR/L, Spielbound Senior Outreach Coordinator