Playing with grandchildren may improve mental health of older adults: study

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Playing with grandchildren can improve mental well-being in older adults, despite age being the biggest risk factor for dementia and other neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, research found on Wednesday.

The number of adults aged 60 and over is expected to double by 2050, and the number of adults aged 80 and over is expected to triple, indicating that the world population is rapidly aging.

Researchers from the University of Canberra (UC) and the University of South Australia (UniSA) have investigated the benefits of intergenerational play using playgrounds specifically designed for children and adults.

Young children and older people can participate in creative and entertaining activities such as games, storytelling and using playground equipment when engaging in intergenerational play.

“There is a social divide between younger and older people that makes it difficult to have meaningful interactions outside of home and school,” said Fanke Peng, associate professor and deputy director of the Australian Research Centre for Interactive and Virtual Environments (IVE) at the University of South Australia.

“For older adults, this age-related segregation leads to feelings of social disconnection and isolation, which can then lead to depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and cognitive decline. Building a playground that is for children as well as their parents and grandparents will encourage intergenerational play and improve mental health,” Peng added.

Participants aged 65 and older discussed the benefits of spending time with children and imagined what a shared space in their community might look like during workshops on co-designing play spaces hosted by the researchers.

In addition, participants discussed what they need or want in an intergenerational playground, and what their favorite play memories are and their experiences of playing with children.

Designing spaces for intergenerational play between children and older people is crucial to addressing mental health issues and encouraging interaction between generations. This includes dismantling social stigma and creating shared spaces that respond to the needs of older people, the study found.

Indo-Asian News Service