COLUMBUS, Ohio — In an effort to combat loneliness and cognitive decline and to help Franklin County’s senior population become more comfortable with our digital world, Levels Unlocked Enterprises has partnered with Esports Foundry and the Franklin County Board of Commissioners Office on Aging to introduce seniors to computer and online gaming.
"Last year, when the US Surgeon General announced this epidemic of isolation and loneliness, more than 50% of US adults identify as lonely and, when you do identify as lonely, you have a 50% increased risk of dementia, you have an increased risk of heart disease, [and] high blood pressure." explained Dr. Melita Moore, sports medicine and brain injury physician who works with US Olympics, including the US esports competitors, as well as the founder and CEO of Levels Unlocked Enterprises.
Levels Unlocked Enterprises is an “all-female, multicultural boutique… global consulting company that focuses on esports, sports and health.” The company’s mission is to study young girls and women of color with the intent of expanding opportunity, visibility and equity in the esports, sports and health space.
"We know that some of the benefits of gaming include improved cognitive skills, improved memory, improved hand-eye coordination," said Moore.
The LevelUpLand Senior Gaming Day event is held every Tuesday at the Game Arena video game lounge in The Gateway near Ohio State's campus. It is open to any Franklin County senior over the age of 60.
In her first time attending the program, new gamer Pamela Shields quickly moved from playing Spades to a new love of mahjongg.
"I'm learning stuff on this computer that I never thought I'd learn and I never thought I would like it, but I'm really starting to like it," said Shields. "Anything to improve my health and to reduce loneliness and anxiety and my depression - that's what this is about."
"I always say that we could have absolutely nothing in common, but if we play the same video game, we're going to be best friends and I can talk to you for hours," said Justin Kogge, owner and co-founder of Game Arena. "Everyone says, 'if you don't use it, you lose it' and I can't think of a better analogy than with video games and your brain; it's working out for your brain."
Another aspect of the initiative is to help seniors become more familiar and more comfortable with navigating an online world and to help prevent them from falling victim to scams and online fraud.
"It's a very good experience," observed Yvonne Tolbert, another senior learning to game through the program. "It gets you out, you're learning more about technology and what's going on and, you know, what's going to happen in the future so it is very informative."