La práctica del ajedrez en personas de la tercera edad del centro de jubilación activa del IESS, efectos y estudio; Cuenca 2015

Abstract

The main objective of the following thesis was to design and run a program focused on learning and practicing Chess for older residents, who belong to the elderly attention center of the Ecuadorian Social Security Institute (IESS) of Cuenca, through a workshop held from February to May 2015. The main purpose was to better the quality of life of the participants, taking advantage of the many benefits of playing Chess, especially for human intellectual capacity. We also meant to promote the game as recreational activity for the elderly. This was achieved using the empiric deductive method, which allowed us to build empiric knowledge through the initial evaluation, applying an experimental Pre-test – Post-test procedure (MoCA test and a test on Chess knowledge) to an 8 person sample of a population of approximately 2,500 people. The results obtained through the MoCa test showed the augmentation of cognitive capacities related to playing chess, for example: identification 7%, memory 30%, repetition 12% and also within concentration, attention and calculation. The conclusions showed that, as a result of systemization, pacification and the use of the right methodology; the participants were able to learn to play Chess and, in addition, have fun, benefiting of its practice to better their quality of life.