The Itinerary
What's our plan when we actually get to the retirement house?
We call/email a retirement house
The 2 ways we connect with a house is by either calling them, or if they reach out to us through this website. After finding a community, we will schedule a 1 hour time period for the both of us to come in.
We give a small presentation
Before moving the pieces, we want to be able to formally introduce ourselves and why we are here to play chess.
We let the residents play chess
After our presentation, we will have many boards, that we bring, for the residents to play one another. We will also play other interactive versions of chess such as simuls, 4 player chess and even friendly competitions.
We check in and grow
After we wrap up, we make sure to gather feedback, take pictures and visit again every few weeks to show commitment and camaraderie.
Frequently asked questions
Do residents need to already know how to play chess?
Before each visit, we will take a small amount of time to cover the basic rules of the game before we start. This makes sure that even the residents who don’t know how to play, can enjoy the next hour.
How often do you visit?
We are going to visit 1-2 retirement houses each week, and plan on revisiting every few weeks to make sure that we are expanding our reach while seeing the same faces.
Do retirement communities have to prepare anything beforehand?
Retirement homes actually do not need to provide any materials other than a quiet space with tables. We will bring all the chess sets and resources for the residents to have fun.
Why chess and not any other board game?
Chess requires a certain level of cognition and critical thinking which helps. Research shows that chess can help maintain cognitive function and reduce the risk of cognitive decline and the possibility of developing dementia. (National Library of Medicine 19)