Technology, Video Games, and Senior Health

At 85 years old with a poofy, silver tuft of hair, Shirley Curry starts her videos by adjusting her large, oval glasses, crinkling a couple of handwritten notes on her desk, and pulling out her bow & arrow. The internet knows and loves Shirley as the “Skyrim Grandma,” named after her favorite dragon-hunting video game, The Elders Scrolls: Skyrim.

In the game she plays as Major Bromley, a tall and muscular half-human, half-cat warrior. She picks flowers and makes potions, vanquishes demons and bandits, and visits gorgeous forests and waterfalls with her pet wolf, Meeko. In fact, Shirley is so popular that there is now a downloadable character named after her in the game who will follow you around as a bodyguard. So Shirley, the gaming grandma, will protect you from dragons, ghouls, and orc barbarians if you aren’t up to snuff.

As more and more people enter their silver years with exposure to technology, gaming and other online activities are becoming more and more popular in retirement communities. Seniors 55+ make up nearly 23% of Facebook users. A study by AARP found that 44% of seniors are gamers, and that number is sure to grow as generations exposed to technology hit their senior years. In fact, multiple studies, like the one from North Carolina State University have found that video games are actually beneficial for mental health in seniors. And many are picking up video games for the first time, either to try something new and casual, or to connect with their kids and grandkids.

In other words, it’s not too late for you to find a new hobby or skill in technology. You don’t have to be the next Shirley, conquering castles and evicting daedric monarchs, but you can start with Facetiming your daughter, or sending your grandkids an animated birthday card.