Card games are a popular pastime older adults participate in. However, the benefits gained by solely playing card games in their original form are not well known. 11 older adults in either assisted living or an independent residence were interviewed to explore their awareness of the benefits of playing card games regularly. Data analysis showed several themes including mental stimulation, social engagement, enjoyment, and entertainment. These various themes could also be viewed through the lenses of: perceived benefits of playing card games, value, motivation, and opportunity to play. This research could be beneficial to the field of Therapeutic Recreation to better understand how playing card games impacts older adults.
