Othering Older People’s Housing: Gaming Ageing to Support Future-Planning

Citation

McCall V, Rutherford AC, Bowes A, Jagannath S, Njoki M, Quirke M, Pemble CM, Lovatt M, Maginn K, Davison L, Scrutton P, Pengelly R & Gibson J (2024) Othering Older People’s Housing: Gaming Ageing to Support Future-Planning. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21 (3), Art. No.: 304. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21030304

Abstract
The ‘othering’ of ageing is linked to an integrated process of ageism and hinders future planning for both individuals and practitioners delivering housing and health services. This paper aims to explore how creative interventions can help personalise, exchange knowledge and lead to systems change that tackles the ‘othering’ of ageing. The Designing Homes for Healthy Cognitive Ageing (DesHCA) project offers new and creative insights through an innovative methodology utilising ‘serious games’ with a co-produced tool called ‘Our House’ that supports insight on how to deliver housing for older people for ageing well in place. In a series of playtests with over 128 people throughout the UK, the findings show that serious games allow interaction, integration and understanding of how ageing affects people professionality and personally. The empirical evidence highlights that the game mechanisms allowed for a more in-depth and nuanced consideration of ageing in a safe and creative environment. These interactions and discussions enable individuals to personalise and project insights to combat the ‘othering’ of ageing. However, the solutions are restrained as overcoming the consequences of ageism is a societal challenge with multi-layered solutions. The paper concludes that serious gaming encourages people to think differently about the concept of healthy ageing – both physically and cognitively – with consideration of scalable and creative solutions to prepare for ageing-in-place.

Keywords
ageing in place; inclusive design; serious games; healthy ageing; co-production

Journal
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: Volume 21, Issue 3

• Published Version