Game performance to assess elderly people in long term care – a pilot study

Abstract

Aim: To validate the Jogo das Mãos TATI as a motor coordination and executive functions assessment tool in institutionalized older adults. Methods: A convenience sample of 10 institutionalized participants (aged 81-92 years old) and cognitively preserved (according to Six Item Cognitive Impairment Test - 6CIT result) was recruited. The applied protocol included the TATI Hands Game procedure (unilateral and bilateral mode), the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB, forexecutive functions assessment), the plate-tapping test of the EUROFIT testing battery (upper-limb coordination assessment), and the assessment of the game-based experience. Results: Large statistically significative correlations were found between the FAB total result and the Jogo das Mãos TATI results (ρ = - 0.74; p < 0.05; ρ = - 0.77; p < 0.01, for the unilateral and the bilateral mode, respectively), and the plate-tapping test of the EUROFIT testing battery results and the Jogo das Mãos TATI results (ρ = 0.72; p < 0.05; and ρ = 0.89; p < 0.01, for the unilateral and the bilateral mode, respectively). The game-based experience was globally classified as positive. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the Jogo das Mãos TATI can be used to assess motor coordination and executive functions in institutionalized older adults. Further studies are needed to replicate the results in larger and more heterogeneous samples.