Zhiwen Qiu, Hsin-Ming Chao, Mengye Zhu, Chaoyu Wang, Saleh Kalantari
Retirement is a significant life event that can have major impacts on well-being. Although demographic changes have led to longer post-retirement periods, the extended lifespan does not guarantee increased quality of life. Older adults may experience increased loneliness, loss of purpose, and adverse health outcomes. To assist older adults in making the transition to retirement, researchers developed a gamified app named EncoreLife, featuring collaborative local activities, digital social interactions, and a reminder system, with the goal of fostering social connections and reestablishing daily life structures. Results from a preliminary user study indicated that enhanced opportunities for social engagement were the most strongly valued features of the app. Future research is planned to further enhance the interactive features of the app, evaluate its use with a larger and more diverse participant samples, and conduct a longitudinal study of psychological outcomes.
Problem Statement
The longer post-retirement period in the US, due to increased life expectancy and early retirement, often results in increased loneliness and potential health issues. Healthy transitions to retirement involve family bonds, social engagement, and structured everyday life. Technological interventions like social networking, video-conferencing, and virtual reality have shown effectiveness in reducing loneliness and fostering social networks among older adults. Gamification of everyday activities has also shown potential in enhancing motivation and engagement among the elderly. Our study focuses on a gamified prototype technology designed to support older adults transitioning into retirement, aiming to foster social connections and provide structure in daily life.
Figure 1. Research conceptual framework
Prototype Design
The app includes three main components. In the Collaborative Local Activity component, older adults are prompted to join nearby social interest groups based on their preferences, which takes them to a curated list of local activities. They can then engage in the specified activities, which includes items such as meeting new friends in a coffee shop or with group members to create an art project, following detailed step-by-step instructions. Upon completion of an activity, users will advance to “higher levels” and earn badges that showcase their accomplishments.
In the Hybrid Social Interaction component, users interact with each other in a digital environment. These activities are designed around a “house” concept where each member can contribute to the house’s development. As members complete more activities and the group becomes more active, the “house” can evolve and feature increasingly intricate designs and advanced amenities. Each user has their own “decoration wall” within the house to showcase badges and decorations earned, which can be viewed by other members of the house. These interactions are intended to enhance the users’ sense of belonging within the digital community and allow them to connect with other older adults outside of their local geographic area.
Finally, in the Activity Management component, users can activate multiple notification methods to help keep track of their planned daily activities and schedule. Notifications can be set up and sent to various devices, as well as displayed on in-app banners. In the “My Activity” tab, the users can track scheduled events through both “list” and “calendar” views (Figure 3). The goal of this system is to support users in maintaining a structured daily routine, especially for social activities.
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Figure 2. Information architecture of EncoreLife app
a. Activity Detail
b. Personal Wall
c. Social Group
d. My Activity
Figure 3. Prototype design of EncoreLife pages
Pilot Study
Preliminary qualitative study of four participants found that the app EncoreLife was motivational and they felt accomplished after completing activities. They enjoyed creating and participating in social activities, emphasizing the importance of such engagements. The coupon rewards were seen as a strong incentive.
Users also felt a sense of belonging, appreciating the local social group aspect, shared virtual space, and badge system. They were intrigued by the competitive aspect of the leaderboard, and found online social groups potentially more engaging than traditional ones.
The flexibility and structure the app provided for daily activities were well-received. Participants liked the notification system and preferred the calendar format for viewing activities. They found value in organizing routine activities and agreed a structured lifestyle can simplify daily life.
The usability was generally appreciated with praises for large font size, simple layout, and curated visuals. Though certain terms and functionalities were initially unclear, further explanations led to excitement and understanding. Suggestions included improved privacy controls and social group activities visible in the calendar.
Figure 4. User testing
Limitation & Future Work
The study indicates potential for a gamified app for older adults transitioning to retirement. However, limitations include a female-only participant pool, which might skew results and require further research on gender relevance to retirees' social and technological needs. The user testing was restricted to a single flow, which may have affected perceived usefulness and hindered natural exploration. Also, long-term impacts on social engagement, sense of belonging, and daily scheduling were not evaluated. Future work involves developing the app's interactive features and conducting a more comprehensive study with diverse older adults.