Gaming to Connect Initiative Proves that Gaming is for Everyone

At Canterbury Woods, a senior living community in Pacific Grove, California, residents compete in a whirlwind game of Mario Kart, propelling characters around a virtual race track. Residents are participating in a Gaming Pop-Up, part of the Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing’s (FPCIW) Gaming to Connect initiative. The initiative, which introduces video games to older adults as a means to create community by enhancing connection to others while also improving cognitive vitality, flips the script on aging. “I think it breaks down the idea that older adults aren’t interested in video games,” shares Wesley Warren, Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing field project coordinator. “Having residents exposed to games in a deliberately accessible way opens the door to new ways for them to connect with others in a fun and meaningful way.”  

Press Start

Intentionality and accessibility are two of the core principles behind the initiative, which is funded by a Consumer Technology Association Foundation Grant. With a focus on enhancing digital inclusion and wellbeing, the Gaming to Connect initiative was built in phases to ensure lasting success. These phases include an initial collaboration phase, a pilot, the Gaming Pop-Ups and the production of a playbook.

During the initial collaboration phase, the FPCIW team determined the scope of the project, what games to focus on and which platforms to utilize. This included collaborating with AbleGamers, a nonprofit that promotes accessibility in gaming, to determine which games and platforms would be best for older adults from an accessibility standpoint.

The Tutorial

The team then did focus groups with staff and residents at Front Porch communities as part of the pilot phase to learn what types of games residents would be most interested in and how to tailor the program to best introduce the games to meet residents’ needs. “Each community is incredibly unique, so having staff opinions on when, where and what activities should be included in the pop-up events is super helpful,” Wesley notes. With the games, platforms and process in place, it was time to game on with the Gaming Pop-Ups.

Game On

The Gaming Pop-Ups are centered on fun and accessibility to make it easy for residents to engage, and they present a variety of games and platforms to meet residents’ needs and interests. “There are so many different types of games out there and I truly believe that there is something for everyone,” Wesley shares. Non-tech games, such as card games, Uno and Mahjong, are introduced alongside gaming technology built for senior living communities and classic video game systems like the Nintendo Switch.

Obie projectors and the It’s Never Too Late platform by LifeLoop, are two examples of gaming platforms built with older adults in mind. Obie projectors transform a simple tabletop into a touchscreen with numerous built-in games that residents can play while It’s Never Too Late (iN2L), an interactive touchscreen TV, transforms games residents would normally play individually on a phone or tablet into an opportunity to connect as a group. By playing on a larger screen, multiple residents can play together and even compete against one another. Both Obie and iN2L are used throughout the Front Porch family.

The Nintendo Switch offers more opportunities for residents to play together and build a sense of camaraderie and community. Games like Switch bowling, brain games and Mario Kart allow residents to have fun while also connecting with each other.  The games also build confidence. “Seeing residents have fun is always a highlight,” shares Wesley, “but it’s especially great when it’s someone who was unsure or nervous at first. I’ve found that there are a lot of folks who think games aren’t for them just because they haven’t played before, but once they realize how accessible and fun they can be, it’s amazing to watch their confidence grow. You can see them start to relax, enjoy themselves and really let their personality come through.”  

Gaming to Connect has currently been rolled out at four Front Porch communities and five CARING Housing Ministries affordable communities. One community that hosted Gaming Pop-Ups is Canterbury Woods. “The residents who participated had lots of fun competing with each other,” shares Geoven Snaer, senior executive assistant at Canterbury Woods. “Seeing residents playing these games with each other and learning how to use the video game systems is extremely exciting.” Geoven “hopes that residents will go out to their friends in the community to share how much fun they had, bringing more residents over to explore games even further.”

After the FPCIW team hosts Gaming Pop-Ups, they ensure that the project has a lasting impact by training residents and staff on how to use the gaming technology and leaving hardware at the communities so that residents can continue to connect using the different platforms. Some communities have even created inter-community leagues so residents can compete against one another, all while building and expanding connections with each other.

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The final phase of the initiative is a playbook that will provide other organizations with proven steps to introduce gaming at their senior living communities. “I hope more older adults get the chance to experience video games in a way that really meets them where they are,” Wesley shares. “A lot of residents we’ve met have said they never imagined themselves playing games, yet thrived during our Gaming Pop-ups. I’d love to see the playbook help more communities create these moments.” By creating a scalable model, the FPCIW team offers a pathway for more older adults to connect through gaming and flip the script on aging.                 

Follow the Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing on LinkedIn to stay up to date on the Gaming to Connect Initiative, including when the playbook is released.