Developing and feasibility testing a gamified app for learning to prevent slips, trips and falls among the over 65s

Slips, trips and falls (STF) are the largest cause of accidental death in older people across Europe with 30% of people aged 65 and older, and 50% of people aged 80 and over, falling at least once per year. The direct and indirect costs of falls are substantial, estimated to cost the NHS more than £2.3bn per year. There is good evidence that specific exercise can reduce falls but evidence also of low uptake and adherence to exercises in the home without support from therapists. Gamification is about the way in which ‘game thinking’ can engage participants and change behaviours in real, non-game contexts. Funded by the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council Impact Acceleration Account, the aim of this project is to co-create and feasibility test a prototype gamified application to facilitate learning and reduce STF among the over 65s. The inter-disciplinary research team brings together academics from The University of Manchester’s Alliance Manchester Business School and School of Nursing, Midwifery & Social Work with a track record in exploring gamification and learning in the context of social goals. Co-development of the gamified application is undertaken with potential users from New Charter Group, a not-for-profit social landlord based in Greater Manchester, and supported by Reason Digital, a creative agency. At the Games for Health conference we will present our work-in-progress: sharing our experiences of co-developing the gamified application, reporting initial insights from the feasibility testing, and reflecting on the lessons learned and the way forward.