The Effects of Playing the Glenrose Grocery Game on the Specific Mental Functions Andfunctioning in Inpatient Older Adults: a Feasibility Study

Older adults could benefit from computer serious games as a strategy for improving not only their cognitive functions but also their functioning and performance in daily activities, which are often compromised with age. A computer serious game is one designed for a primary purpose other than pure entertainment. Few computer games had been developed to emulate instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), such as money management (e.g., shopping or paying bills). To fill this gap, occupational therapists at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital (GRH) developed the Glenrose Grocery Game (GGG).

At the time, the game had not yet been tested. Thus, the purpose of this feasibility study was to explore whether playing the GGG as part of the rehabilitation program at the GRH had an effect on specific mental functions (memory and attention), occupational performance in money management tasks, and satisfaction with occupational performance in older adults.

In this study, we compared the outcomes of 7 participants who played the GGG (intervention group) with those of 8 different participants who received the GRH standard of care (control group). Data analysis is being conducted. The results of the study:

Provided clinicians with evidence for implementing the GGG in interventions, which in turn may benefit inpatient clients at the GRH;

Informed stakeholders' decisions about clients' safe discharge and transition to home and community; and

Supported researchers in designing a larger and more robust study.