{
  "id": 5093245,
  "title": "Bogota, Colombia, Turns to Video Games to Fight Elderly Loneliness",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/bogota-colombia-turns-to-video-games-to-fight-elderly-loneliness",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-02T13:05:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Colombia One",
    "slug": "colombia-one",
    "url": "https://colombiaone.com/2026/09/02/bogota-colombia-elderly-loneliness/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Bogota, Colombia is using video games as a novel approach to combat elderly loneliness and enhance social connections among older adults. The city’s annual Wellness Week concluded with a three-day video game focused segment, closing out a range of wellness activities that included yoga, meditation, and nature walks. The Secretariat of Culture spearheaded this initiative, aiming to utilize art and culture as means to alleviate stress and bolster mental health citywide. Secretary Santiago Trujillo emphasized the importance of addressing mental health and making it a central topic of public discourse in large cities facing heightened stress levels. The decision to dedicate the final days of Wellness Week to video games was driven by data revealing that 50.49% of Bogota’s senior residents, aged 60 and above, experienced moderate to high levels of loneliness, a figure that highlights the growing isolation among the city’s aging population. This move follows a 2023 mental health survey, which underscored the need for innovative solutions to address the issue. Begamers, a Colombian game development company specializing in wellness-oriented gaming, crafted the program, which featured interactive experiences, discussions on the advantages and potential drawbacks of gaming, and tailored participation stations designed with older adults in mind. This approach is gaining traction globally as research increasingly supports the positive impact of video games on cognitive function and social engagement among seniors. Studies indicate that multiplayer and cooperative games can significantly reduce feelings of isolation and even lower the risk of dementia. Similar initiatives have been launched in countries such as Finland, the United Kingdom, and Mexico, providing Bogota with a solid foundation and international validation for its innovative strategy. By integrating video games into its wellness framework, Bogota demonstrates a forward-thinking approach that acknowledges the role of technology in promoting emotional balance and social cohesion among older adults.",
  "summary": "Bogota is closing its annual Wellness Week with an unexpected centerpiece: video games, positioned as a genuine tool for improving mental health among the city’s older residents. The Secretariat of Culture built this year’s program around art and culture as instruments for reducing stress and strengthening mental health citywide, and Secretary Santiago Trujillo explained the […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}