Improving Cognitive Performance with Board Activities in Older Adults

Cognitive function decline is one of the problems that is often experienced as we age, and this has an impact on activities of daily living (ADL), social participation, employment, psychological conditions, and independence of pre-elderly and elderly. To maintain cognitive abilities, interventions in the form of cognitive activities are needed.  The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the Monopoli Modified Board Game (Indonesian Version) on the cognitive abilities of pre-elderly and elderly. The method used was pre-experimental one-group pretest and posttest, with 28 subjects from the elderly community RW 8, Kemiri, Kebakkramat, Karanganyar. Data collection was carried out using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Indonesian Version (MoCa-Ina) instrument, and the modified monopoly game was conducted in 8 sessions for eight weeks. The results showed that there was a significant effect of the Monopoly Modified Board Game on the cognitive abilities of pre-elderly and elderly, with a paired t-test value of Sig. (2-tailed) = 0.001, which means the p-value <0.05. The mean difference of 2.25 indicates an increase in cognitive abilities after the intervention. The majority of research subjects were female, with a pre-elderly age category of 53.5%, most were not working (60.7%), and had the last education at a low level (75%). The implication of this study shows that the Monopoli Modified Board Game (Indonesian Version) can be an effective alternative intervention in improving cognitive abilities in pre-elderly and elderly, so that it can help them maintain independence and a better quality of life.