Playing with grandchildren can boost the mental well-being of older adults, even as age is the biggest risk factor for dementia and other neuro disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, according to research on Wednesday. The proportion of adults over 60 is expected to double and that of adults over 80 is expected to triple by 2050, indicating that the world’s population is ageing rapidly. Researchers from the University of Canberra (UC) and the University of South Australia (UniSA) have studied the advantages of intergenerational play using playgrounds that are specifically made for children and adults.
Young children and older people can participate in creative and entertaining activities including games, storytelling, and playground equipment when they engage in intergenerational play. “There’s a social divide between younger and older people that makes it difficult for meaningful interaction to occur outside of the 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. “In older adults, this age-based segregation leads to feelings of social disconnection and isolation, which can subsequently cause depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and cognitive decline.
Building a playground that caters to kids as well as their parents and grandparents will encourage intergenerational play and improve mental health outcomes,” added Peng..