Ageless Innovation to Continue “Reach Out and Play” Program

PAWTUCKET, Rhode Island—Ageless Innovation, a company that aims to reimagine how people positively live and age together through the power of play, will continue its ongoing mission to bring people of all ages together through its powerful “Reach Out and Play” campaign following the immense success of its inaugural year. The campaign, which launched in September 2023, was designed to tackle the harmful effects of the ongoing loneliness epidemic by organizing hundreds of game night events for older adults and their families year-round. AARP, the nation’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older, will sign on as the campaign’s title sponsor for the second year in a row. 

According to a 2023 survey conducted by AARP, over six-in-ten (65%) of adults 50-plus say that playing board games is a great way for them to connect with others. This insight, along with several others that show rising feelings of loneliness and the need for more social interactions among older adults, is the driving force behind the continuation of the Reach Out and Play campaign.    

“In 2023, we received overwhelmingly positive feedback from program participants across the nation, most notably from older adults, but also from their family members and caregivers that were noticing significant positive changes in their loved ones as the result of attending an event,” said Ted Fischer, CEO and co-founder of Ageless Innovation. “Seeing that palpable joy across so many faces, and hearing hundreds of testimonials expressing feelings of hope and happiness, is what’s fueling this campaign and propelling us into an exciting year two.”   

With dozens of events already on the docket for 2024, the teams at Ageless Innovation and AARP will continue to work alongside state leaders and organizations across the aging industry to organize meaningful play experiences that rally older adults and their loved ones to come together nationwide. Reach Out and Play events will occur on an ongoing cadence throughout the year with a large concentration taking place in the fall/ winter, in line with Grandparents Day in September and throughout the holiday season. 

“The New York State Office for the Aging and our local partners hosted more than 100 events in 2023 throughout New York State, and we plan to continue the momentum and expand upon that number in 2024,” said Greg Olsen, acting director of the New York State Office for the Aging. “I had the pleasure of attending many of 2023’s events, and to see the true happiness and connections attendees are making across generations is really incredible.”  

“Meaningful partnerships with thought leaders and trailblazers at organizations such as AARP, New York State Office for the Aging, and many more have allowed us to engage and positively impact an unprecedented number of older adults,” said Jim Murphy Senior vice president of healthcare at Ageless Innovation. “In year two, we look forward to onboarding even more impactful partners to ensure older adults across the country have access to playful events in their local communities as often as possible.” 

“We applaud Ageless Innovation for their commitment to delivering joy and fun to an often underserved community, and together, we look forward to yet another year of bringing people of all ages together through the universal language of play,” said Heather Nawrocki, VP of Fun and Fulfillment at AARP. 

Many of the Reach Out and Play board game events will highlight three board games from the Joy for All portfolio, including Scrabble Bingo, Trivial Pursuit Generations and Game of Life Generations. The games, which launched in 2023 in partnership with Hasbro, have been reimagined to better suit the needs of the older adult community; features include larger fonts and intergenerational gameplay and storylines. In 2024, Ageless Innovation anticipates adding more game titles to its portfolio, expanding its licensed partnership with Hasbro to continue launching innovative, reimagined games for their audience.  

Interested in hosting an event? From senior centers to faith-based settings to libraries to family living rooms and kitchen tables, anyone can host a Reach Out and Play Game Night. To learn more about Ageless Innovation’s Reach Out and Play campaign, and how you can create and register your own event, email [email protected].  

For additional information on the power of play visit AgelessInnovation.com; and learn more about the Joy for All Board Games and other solutions for older adults via https://joyforall.com, or on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.