Effects of a Taiwanese Practice of Board Game Program on Cognitive Function and Loneliness Among Older Adults in Long-Term Care Facilities: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Stimulating leisure activities have been increasingly recognized as meaningful strategies to maintain cognitive health and reduce psychosocial risks among older adults. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a structured board game intervention in enhancing cognitive function and reducing loneliness among older adults living in long-term care facilities in Taiwan. Using a quasi-experimental design, 67 residents were assigned to either an intervention group, which participated in a six-week board game program, or a comparison group that continued with their usual activities. Data were collected at baseline and immediately after the intervention. Generalized estimating equations were used to analyze changes over time. Results indicated that the intervention group showed significantly greater improvements in cognitive function (β = 3.86, p < 0.001) and reductions in loneliness (β = 2.31, p = 0.004) at week 6 compared with the comparison group. These findings provide preliminary evidence that structured board game activities may represent a feasible, low-cost, and socially engaging approach to support cognitive and psychosocial well-being among older adults living in long-term care facilities. Implications for gerontological social work practice and activity programming are discussed.