The document discusses library services focused on engaging senior citizens through games. It notes that senior citizens need social engagement and hobbies to stay active. Libraries are well positioned to provide programs for seniors, especially games. The document lists benefits of games for seniors such as improved cognitive abilities and reducing depression. It provides examples of suitable board games and video games for seniors and ways libraries can engage seniors through game activities and classes.

1. Library services for senior citizens
with focus on games
Amirhoseyn Abdi, bachelor student of Information science in Allameh Tabataba’I
University in Tehran/Iran
Trans-institutional services in libraries
Guided by Maryam Pakdaman Naeeni
12.2022
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2. Introduction
Senior citizens are very important group of people in the society which need more
care and energy and programs to keep them engaged and healthy in the society.
Libraries as one of the most important sources for education, information and
entertainment are one of the most important service providers for these sensitive
group of people.
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3. Who is considered a senior person ?
• The Department of Health of UK libraries association sees older people as falling
broadly into three groups:
• entering old age – according to differing definitions, can include people aged 50+
or people who have reached the official retirement ages.
• transitional – those in transition between healthy, active life and frailty.
• frail older people.
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4. What percentage of people are considered “Senior”?
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https://www.statista.com/statistics/294213/iran-age-structure/

5. Why do we need to provide Seniors our services?
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Lonely

6. Barriers between elderly people and society
Senior people are often weak and vulnerable in society, they are deprived and
isolated by other people because of their inabilities and incapableness. In that way
they seek and need more social support.
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Libraries are a good way to engage senior people back
with society and to help them improve their lives
significantly.

7. Physical and biological barriers for
seniors for using a library
Senior citizens, specially the frail group, often suffer
from many problems caused by aging. These
problems vary from fatigue, unintended weight loss,
diminished strength and their ability to recover from
illness, even minor ones, or injury is greatly reduced.
Also their speech and eyesight and listening power
could be reduced or at least effected.
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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4098658/

8. How many senior citizens attend to libraries in US?
• Close to two-thirds of seniors reported
using libraries in the last 12 months, though
men were more likely to have visited than
women.
• Seniors are frequent library visitors with
half reporting that they visit libraries at
least once a week.
• While the majority of seniors reported using
library computers to access library
resources (65%) only one quarter used
library computers to access the internet
(25%).
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https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2013/01/22/part-2-what-people-do-at-libraries-and-library-websites/

9. Equity of Access Issues for Older Adults
• Providing books-by-mail programs, home visits, institutional deposit collections,
accessible bookmobiles, or other outreach programs for homebound older adults
• Utilizing tools such as computer screen readers, screen magnifiers, or other tools
to enlarge texts and providing accessible collections including audio books, large-
print formats, or Braille titles.
• Designing library spaces for accessibility, including clear aisles and pathways,
available seating, accessible shelving, easy to navigate entrance.
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10. What senior citizens expect from librarians ?
Older people would like to be treated with respect. Like anyone else, an older person can sense
when they are not being respected or valued as a customer. In their own words, they would like:
• staff to have time for them – giving the impression they have time, not hurrying, not brusque
• they would appreciate staff taking a few moments to discuss the books brought back.
Remember that the borrower may live on their own and be keen to share their enjoyment of a
book – and where else but in a library
• normal common courtesy
• staff talking to them, not talking up or down to them, not patronizing or condescending; not
saying ‘dear’ or ‘love’
• a smile is very important.
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11. Older people can help with librarians
As volunteers, older people:
• help with story times for children – keen older readers can be very important
in stimulating and supporting young readers
• deliver books to home-bound people
• help out at library groups
• support visually impaired people to use computers
• run friends’ groups and raise money for the library
• run computer clubs in the library
• are speakers at library events
• are part of library community management boards.
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12. Older people need engagement and hubbies
Older people by the qualities of their old age, on average need more social
engagement and hobbies just like children, more than other groups of people.
So libraries should think of more entertaining programs than informative or
educational. Programs like solo and group activities like games with people they
can connect to (children and other older people).
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13. Games are more beneficial than people believe.
• How do you think games could be beneficial ?
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14. Benefits of playing games for seniors
• Improving reaction speed (improving neural networks in brain).
• Improving cognitive abilities.
• Improving self confidence.
• Feeling closer and connected to other members of their games.
• Improving mood and reducing depression.
• Preventing Alzheimer’s disease.
• Improving immune system and reducing blood pressure.
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15. 5 benefits of playing board games as older people
• Encourages interactions with others.
• Playing is exercising for their brain.
• Reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
• Board games create more happiness.
• Increase physical activity with games.
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16. Benefits of playing video games for older people
• A 2016 study by the American Association of Retired Persons and the
Entertainment Software Association found 38% of Americans aged 50+ played
video games; by 2019, another study by the AARP saw that number grow to 44%.
The concept that gaming is just for 'young folk' is fast disappearing as the
medium has become more sophisticated and accessible.
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https://word.tips/beneficial-
videogames-seniors/

18. How can we engage with seniors by games
We as service providers for this group, can engage with them by many ways of;
conducting educational classes or group playing sessions, teach them and help
them with their games, playing with them ourselves and many more ways.
The least we can do is to introduce them to games and answer their questions.
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19. Suitable board games and video games for seniors
• Board games like: Bingo, Sudoku, word games, solitaire, building blocks or Tetris,
puzzles, online and physical specific board games with easy difficulty.
• Video games like: Angry birds, animal crossing, the professor Layton games,
plants vs zombies, Minecraft, 2042 and etc.
These lists can go on for ever and ever because the number of games are
increasing daily and there is always something for each taste.
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20. Resource
• Sloan, M. ,Vincent J.(2009). Library services for older people – good practice guide . The Network –
tackling social exclusion in libraries, museums, archives and galleries Wisteria Cottage, Nadderwater,
Exeter EX4 2JQ. | www.seapn.org.uk/content_files/files/library_services ___
good_practice_guide_1336795.pdf
• Clegg A, Young J, Iliffe S, Rikkert MO, Rockwood K. Frailty in elderly people. Lancet. 2013 Mar
2;381(9868):752-62. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)62167-9. Epub 2013 Feb 8. Erratum in: Lancet.
2013 Oct 19;382(9901):1328. PMID: 23395245; PMCID: PMC4098658.
• "Libraries Respond: Services to Older Adults", American Library Association, August 19, 2019.
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/diversity/librariesrespond/services-older-adults (Accessed December 26,
2022) Document ID: 269ef27a-9612-4a80-9ef3-e7e8a2f74b59
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21. Resource (2)
• McLeod J. (2021, Oct 7). 5 surprising benefits of playing board games.
https://www.allseniorscare.com/blog/5-surprising-benefits-of-playing-board-games-for-seniors/
• (2022, Jul 3) Unbelievable Benefits of Games You Didn’t Know About.
https://livingmaples.com/mag/the-benefits-of-games-for-older-adults/#comments
• Walker-smart S. (2022). Beneficial video games for seniors. https://word.tips/beneficial-videogames-
seniors/
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