Pandebingo: an initiative that brings together seniors via videoconference to fight loneliness during the pandemic

It was not until she reached the age of 71 that retired Brazilian teacher Jurema do Amaral Castro won a prize playing bingo. In a different version of the game, seniors from all over the country are meeting via videoconference on the internet to play Pandebingo (a word that was invited by combining pandemic and bingo).

The initiative is part of Divertidosos (Fun seniors), a website created in 2013 by retiree Guilherme Gargantini and web designer Monika Dunko, to bring elderly people together digitally. After finishing an IT course, Guilherme – at the time, aged 73 – decided that his friends should also learn new technology.

“Today IT allows you to talk to the world, because you have access to knowledge”, he said. This is how Divertidosos started, a space where 80 year-old Guilherme promotes events and content to elderly people. “Our main goal is digital inclusion because we know how good IT is”, Mokika said. Prior to the pandemic, events, tours and meetings were held for seniors in the seaside city of Santos, São Paulo, to provide them with a way to socialize with other members of the group.

“We had an event in February, then the pandemic hit”, he said. “We lost our opportunity to get together”. Due to social distancing measures, Guilherme stayed at home every day and stopped walking his dog and meeting his friends. “I lost all motivation”, he lamented.

Pandebingo – One day in June, recalling rainy seasons with his grandparents, Guilherme had the idea to gather friends virtually to play Pandebingo, an online game with prizes donated by “divertinautas” (fun-senior-nauts), as they call the older internauts that access the website.

“This was the solution we found to enable us to get together to socialize because everybody was feeling the same: missing their friends dearly”, explains Monika. She said that social distancing has had a clear impact on the seniors’ lives: “Because they can barely leave their houses, many of them became depressed”, she said in an interview with the United Nations Information Centre for Brasil.

According to Guilherme, more than 50 people participate in the game. “It´s a tremendous success! When we distribute the prizes, we bring such joy”, he said. The prizes are delivered to the winner´s house, following all safety and good hygiene recommendations, so that the winners don´t need to leave home.

Fighting loneliness – “I don´t even like bingo”, Jurema said. Even so, she was convinced to play the game after donating some of her crafts to be given as prizes. She ended up winning several prizes herself and since then, has taken part in all of the bingo matches.

“It´s good because you see a friend whom you have not been able to meet for a long time. Even if the friend wins, you become happy. It´s fabulous energy”, she said. Now, Jurema and her aunt, aged 87, take play bingo with the group every Saturday.

“It´s a very good initiative”, exclaimed Jurema. She has five grandchildren and uses the internet to stay in touch with them. “I talk to other people often, as I have children and grandchildren. Those who don´t have a family, Divertidosos is everything to them”, she said.

Elderly people during the pandemics – In May, the United Nations launched a policy brief with recommendations to protect elderly persons during the pandemic. According to the report, digital technology must be improved to mitigate restrictions on movement that can disrupt essential care, support and social inclusion for elderly persons. “This is vital for older people who may face great suffering and isolation while under lockdowns and other restrictions”, said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.

Find the policy brief here.