Ageing as a Mindset: A Counterclockwise Experiment to Rejuvenate Older Adults

A group of older adults (aged 75+) will take part of a residential role-play game, in which they will relive their previous self, acting as if they were in the year 1989. The whole residential program, which will last one week, is designed to enhance this perception, including a retrofitted environment and social activities that will prime participants to relive that period.

Participants in the active control group will follow the same agenda of the Counterclockwise Program group, without the constant reference to 1989. The intervention will take place in the same location of the Counterclockwise Program, without any specific change. Activities will mirror the ones of Counterclockwise Program, but participants will not live as if they were younger. The agenda will be the same, but no mention to 1989 will be done. All discussion activities will refer to present days (e.g., instead of discussing the open of the Berlin Wall, they can discuss Brexit or Trump presidency).