Bilbao launches cognitive games for elderly in public parks

Games are designed to stimulate attention, memory, praxis, mental arithmetic and executive functions

BILBAO (Reuters) - City authorities in the northern Spanish city of Bilbao recently launched a programme of cognitive games in its public parks, which aims to combat loneliness whilst stimulating mind and memory amongst its older citizens.

Initially being tested in two public parks, its results and user satisfaction will be closely monitored, the town hall said.

"By creating spaces where people can do not just physical but also cognitive exercises, we’re also making people interact with each other and all this connects to the issue of loneliness, and people who live without interaction (with others)," said Fran Vinez, Director of Public Works and Services at the Bilbao town hall.

The games are designed to stimulate attention, memory, praxis, mental arithmetic and executive functions, and there is also exercise equipment available such as stationary bikes.

First-time user Maria Pilar Acosta was positive about the experience, saying, "At least you have places where you can go as an elderly person to meet up, make friends, and aside from that, well, activate the mind."

Twenty-four percent of Bilbao’s population is over 65, a number set to increase to 30 percent by 2030, according to demographic studies carried out by the town hall.

According to Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE), more than two million people over the age of 65 live by themselves in Spain, and the country is set to have the world’s second oldest population, behind Japan, by 2050.