Lookout Kids and Millennials - Seniors are kicking Butt in Pokemon!

When I was invited to a Community Bulbasaur hunt by my son and Grandson, I was honored and put-off; I was never much of a game player. I am, however, a good sport, and went along with the team, stopping at Pokestops (thank you Starbucks) and capturing Pokemon while traipsing across Queens (the Borough in NYC, not any royals).

Bulbasaur

I was very curious about the Pokemon GO game, and how it grew into a map based adventure. Unlike Pirates’ buried treasure maps of my youth, you can actually catch Pokemon overlaid on a moving map of the local terrain! And catch them we did, moving up levels and feeling like the great Pokemon hunters we had become! The Pokemon were successfully captured, and we rejoiced afterwards while feasting on sandwiches after the hunt.

It was weeks afterward, when I was googling around the internet, that I came across some fascinating articles:

These seniors are kicking ass in Pokemon Go – cnet

What can Pokémon Go do for the elderly ? – Silver Economy

‘This is what 73 looks like’: Seniors embracing Pokémon GO – Vancouver TV News

I learned that “Pokemon seduces people of all ages”; and “In the US, Pokémon Go invades retirement homes”. Interim Healthcare posted this article, “Pokemon Go offers health benefits to seniors” – specifically noting the ways Pokemon can help seniors get more exercise and fight depression with Pokemon. Perhaps the youngsters have gotten on to something. And now the experienced and mature seniors just might need to show those upstarts “how it is done”.

This Grandpa is a Pokemon Go MASTER.

For me, a young resident of Leisure World (an over 55 community), I had to do some research, and discovered Pokestops at the clubhouses, a golf course park bench, and scattered around the community. Clearly the Pokemon creators have not neglected my neighborhood, and this explains all the seniors wandering through the neighborhood – disguised as old ladies and men in sweats – walking in search of Pokemon and reloading at all the stops.

Next time you see a senior walking with a smartphone, don’t assume they are just out walking or shopping. They are craftily honing their “Poke skills”. So watch out, kids, we are catching on – and kicking some butt!

I hope you found my point of view enlightening and informative. Consider sharing it and take a peek at my other works

Senior tools for catching Pokemon:

Big Vision Magnifying glasses (for viewing small phone screens) – on Amazon