Press release

July 2017

Consumer group hits the jackpot with ideas for

dementia-friendly bingo visits

More accessible information and slower-paced games, along with better signage, could make visits to bingo halls even more enjoyable for people living with dementia, a new report by consumer research charity Rica1 shows.

The research was carried out with members of the York Minds and Voices2 group and two of their partners. All group members have Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia.

Rica's fourth local research project working alongside people with dementia was a visit to Mecca Bingo in York3. Members of York Minds and Voices, who chose bingo as the experience they would like to evaluate, assessed the experience of an outing to a bingo hall and made recommendations on how such venues can best accommodate people living with dementia.

The group focused on three areas of the bingo experience:

  1. the facilities and environment
  2. preparing for the bingo games
  3. playing the bingo games

The DEEP memberswere confused at firstabout finding their way to the bingo hall and using the equipment provided. They also felt the games were too quick for them to keep up with. But all stressed that they enjoyed their visit and would go to a bingo hall again.

The group made some practical recommendations which could improve the experience for people with dementia, including:

  • Where possible,providing staff to explain how to play the game, and also provide written information visitors can take with them, if needed.
  • Offering some games at a slower pace, for instance as introductory or relaxed games.
  • Ensuring there are enoughprominent, clearsigns throughout the building to help visitors find their way around the premises

The project was carried out by Rica, the experts in age and ability research, in partnership with Innovations in Dementia (iD)4 and local groups developed through the Dementia Engagement and Empowerment Project (DEEP). Rica has been funded by the John Ellerman Foundation in a new initiative to develop and carry out consumer research with people with dementia. This is the fourth project that iD and Rica have carried out with people with mild dementia as consumers.

Chris Lofthouse, Rica’s Outreach Manager, said: “It’s great for people with dementia to try out a real-life fun day out like bingo. Rica’s research shows how important it is to get people’s views and experiences to help improve services, in this case bingo.”

Damian Murphy, Co-director of Innovations in Dementia, said:

“This research shows that bingo can be for everyone. Why play in the care home or day centre when with some adjustments it can be accessible to all the community?”

ENDS

A full copy of the report is available at:

For further information, please contact:

Chris Lofthouse, Outreach Manager, Rica: Tel: 020 7427 2467

Damian Murphy, Co-director, Innovations in Dementia (iD),

Notes

  1. Rica is a consumer research charity that works with older and disabled people and aims to improve products and services to ensure inclusion and full access.
    Read more about Rica's dementia research here:
  2. York Minds and Voicesis a local Dementia Engagement and Empowerment Project (DEEP) which brings together groups of people with dementia. DEEP supports these groups around the UK to try to change services and policies that affect the lives of people with dementia.
  3. Mecca Bingo York is a fully-modernised, thriving bingo club with over 4,500 active members which serves a broad cross-section of the community from students to senior citizens and everyone in between
  1. Innovations in Dementia is a community interest company that works nationally with people with dementia, partner organisations and professionals to develop projects to enhance the lives of people with dementia. It facilitates DEEP, the UK network of dementia voices made up of over 80 groups of people living with dementia.