Integrating long-term care nursing, medical expertise, and 3D printing technology, the project has been proven to enhance elderly participation and showcases Taiwan’s innovation in long-term care.

In recent years, board games have gained global popularity. Not only are they a favorite form of entertainment among younger generations, but their high level of interaction and cognitive engagement has also increasingly attracted older adults. In addition to continuously improving its medical service capacity, Kaohsiung Medical University Gangshan Hospital actively encourages staff to engage in research and innovation. A “Creative Senior-Friendly Board Game,” independently developed by the hospital’s nursing staff and specifically designed for older adults, successfully integrates long-term care nursing expertise with game design concepts, demonstrating achievements in cross-disciplinary medical innovation.

This innovative project not only won first place nationwide in the “Taiwan Long-Term Care Nursing Association – Long-Term Care Nursing Innovation Competition,” but also gained international recognition by winning the Platinum Award at the 2025 World Future Design Awards (WFDA) in the United Kingdom. This accomplishment highlights Taiwan’s strength in long-term care innovation and brings international visibility to the hospital’s research outcomes.

Using 3D printing, traditional “mouse tiles” were enlarged to Mahjong tile size and paired with vibrant colors to improve recognition and grip for elderly users.

This innovative product was prototyped by nurse Shen Huan-Chun, drawing inspiration from the traditional local cultural element “mouse tiles,” combined with Mahjong, and incorporating universal design principles. Considering that many older adults may experience vision decline and lens yellowing—leading to reduced sensitivity to blue tones—the design emphasizes warm, bright colors such as yellow, orange, and red, complemented by Morandi-style gray and white tones to create a calm, elegant, and gentle visual aesthetic. The result is a senior-friendly board game that balances ease of use, visual clarity, and interactive enjoyment.

Nurse Tseng Yu-Ching observed during visits to community long-term care centers that many elderly individuals enjoy highly interactive games like Mahjong. However, traditional game sets often present challenges such as excessive weight, small size, and complex rules, which reduce participation willingness and comfort during prolonged play. This innovative board game has since been introduced to Xiaogang Hospital’s Long-Term Care C Center and has potential for expansion to other care facilities in the future.

The design evokes familiarity with traditional culture among elderly participants, enhancing group interaction and a sense of identity.

Hospital Superintendent Huang Hsuan-Ti stated that the developer is an operating room nurse, and the hospital has long encouraged staff to pursue diverse career development opportunities by integrating professional expertise with interdisciplinary learning. The development of this “Creative Senior-Friendly Board Game” represents a concrete application of combining nursing expertise with medical 3D printing technology, successfully transforming clinical experience into innovative practice and demonstrating the hospital’s cross-disciplinary research capabilities.

Superintendent Huang further noted that ESG sustainability principles were incorporated throughout the development process. By using medical 3D printing technology combined with recycled materials, the production process reduces carbon emissions by more than 60% compared to traditional manufacturing methods. This approach balances innovation with environmental protection and reflects the hospital’s commitment to environmentally friendly practices and green healthcare. It also underscores the hospital’s dedication to advancing smart healthcare, promoting innovation in long-term care, and cultivating internal research capacity.

 Nurses Shen Huan-Chun (far right), Tseng Yu-Ching (second from right), and Nursing Department Supervisor Hsueh Chiung-Fang (third from right) at Kaohsiung Medical University Gangshan Hospital developed the creative senior-friendly board game, winning awards both domestically and internationally.