Healthy Ageing through Modern Board Games (JUMEMO3e)

Partners

Universidad Europea Miguel de Cervantes

Diputación de Valladolid

The JUMEMO3e project (Modern Board Games for Older Adults) had as its main objective the analysis of the use of modern board games (MBGs) for cognitive stimulation in older adults, specifically in residential care settings. The project aimed to assess which games were most suitable for maintaining or improving executive functions that tend to decline with age, and to test their feasibility through a pilot study. It also sought to design assessment tools to measure the effectiveness of a future intervention programme based on these games, with the aim of improving participants’ socialisation and cognitive well-being.

The methodology was structured in several phases. First, information was gathered and analysed on existing cognitive stimulation programmes in care homes, and 54 board games were reviewed, of which 29 were selected after a screening process based on their learning curve and the competences they addressed. Afterwards, trial sessions were carried out at the Cardenal Marcelo care home, where residents voluntarily took part in 18 sessions. During these trials, the impact of the games on cognitive functions was assessed through group and individual interviews, as well as through the evaluation of the games’ acceptance and suitability for the users’ profile.

Results

The project achieved positive results in the analysis and application of modern board games for cognitive stimulation in older adults. A total of 54 board games were evaluated and, after a screening process based on their learning curve and the competences addressed, 29 were selected to be tested at the Cardenal Marcelo care home. During 18 testing sessions, the feasibility of 21 of these games was confirmed, while 8 were ruled out because they were not sufficiently suited to the participants’ needs.

The observational results indicated a notable improvement in the residents’ socialisation, as they showed a stronger sense of belonging to the group and enjoyed a more engaging way of working on their cognitive functions. In addition, an improvement in the mood of participants who attended the sessions regularly was observed. Although no conclusive quantitative data were obtained in this first phase, the qualitative results suggested that modern board games have significant potential to be implemented in long-term cognitive stimulation programmes, with possible benefits for the improvement or maintenance of executive functions in older adults.

The results of this project were presented at the 11th International Congress of Educational Sciences and Development.