Game playing can help reduce stigma around ageing, say researchers

Serious play can help overcome the stigma that still exists around ageing, according to researchers.

Healthy ageing experts at the University of Stirling have developed a game which addresses the 'othering' of older people researchers say is still too prevalent in society. It also helps put plans in place for their housing needs.

Introducing a game allowed policymakers and health officials who took part in the study to have more insight into the challenges older people can face with housing.

By playing the "serious game", in this case a board game called Our House, participants can imagine themselves in situations which gives them more understanding of those challenges, say the Stirling researchers. 

A ‘serious game’ educates and helps people think through serious topics (such as ageing, climate change or technology) in a safe and creative space where people can also have fun.

Our House was developed under the Designing Homes for Healthy Cognitive Ageing (DesHCA) research project in a work package led by University of Stirling Professors Vikki McCall and Alasdair Rutherford, and funded by UK Research and Innovation as part of the UK’s Healthy Ageing Challenge. It is being shared with local authorities and housing groups across the UK, and used in the national evaluation of home improvement services across England.

Professor McCall, of the University of Stirling's Faculty of Social Sciences, said: "It is highly important to find ways to overcome the 'othering' of ageing and the stereotyping that can lead to. This is particularly important in the housing sector, where the consequences of ageism or ‘othering’ is not well documented.

“We found that turning these topics into a game gave people a better understanding of the challenges older people face with housing. The serious gaming of ageing encourages people to think differently about the concept of healthy ageing, both physically and cognitively, and has a positive knock-on effect on planning and policy making."

The research findings come hot on the heels of a conference on Scottish Housing Day, which took place at the University of Stirling’s Dementia Services Development Centre on September 18. 

The event was chaired by Professor McCall, who shared insights from her research and Our House. The Minister for Housing, Paul McLennan MSP, attended the event.

Othering Older People’s Housing: Gaming Ageing to Support Future-Planning is published in MDPI.

Find out about the Our House and the Serious Game project here: https://www.deshca.co.uk/projects/designing-the-serious-game/