A preliminary study of the integration of specially developed serious games in the treatment of hospitalized elderly patients

The management and rehabilitation of elderly patients within the context during the acute phase of a hospitalization remains a challenge for physicians. The use of commercial video games is becoming more popular for rehabilitation of elderly subjects and patients. However, the efficacy of this kind of intervention is not clear yet, especially at the hospital. Furthermore, there are some limitations related to the use of commercial video games such as the non-therapeutic relevance of the exercises that need to be performed or the speed that are not adapted for elderly subjects. Therefore specific games have been developed for rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to determine if such a kind of intervention could be integrated within the conventional treatment of elderly patients hospitalized in a geriatric department.