WOONWIJS
Woonwijs helps imagine new possibilities for aging well at home through play. It invites players to explore different ways of living, reflect on what matters most to them, and discover the opportunities and challenges each possibility brings. More than a game, it is a conversation starter that sparks curiosity, reflection, and meaningful discussion.
Home is much more than a shelter. It is where memories are made, neighbours become friends, routines bring comfort, and independence is protected. For many older adults, it is their identity, their greatest asset, and a legacy for the next generation.
Across Flanders, hundreds of thousands of older adults want to age in the homes they love. Yet many of these homes are underutilised and not designed to support ageing in place. As life changes, they can become harder to maintain, more expensive to live in, or more difficult to manage alone.
Rather than moving away, there is an opportunity to reimagine how home can evolve. Small changes and new living possibilities can help older adults continue living independently while creating value for their communities.
Context
Design Outcomes
Each player receives a wellbeing board with five areas: Money, Health, Time, Social Satisfaction, and House Condition. Start with 25 points and divide them across the five areas to reflect your current situation.
Pick one of the six housing situations you would like to explore. Each one offers a different way of living.
Take turns drawing a Decision Card from your chosen housing deck. Read the scenario, discuss your options, choose one, and adjust your wellbeing points. Every decision has benefits and trade-offs, so there are no right or wrong answers.
As you play, you may draw Meet Your Neighbour or Kindness cards. These introduce unexpected interactions, new perspectives, and opportunities to help or be helped by others, which can affect your wellbeing.
If your wellbeing drops too low or you want to try a different approach, you can use a Switch Card to move to another housing situation and continue your journey. You win when you make 40 points across all five areas
How to play
Outcome
By playing Woonwijs, older adults can explore different ways of living before making real-life decisions. Through realistic scenarios and conversations, they discover the opportunities, challenges, and trade-offs that each living situation may bring. The game encourages players to reflect on what matters most to them, consider possibilities they may not have thought about before, and build confidence to have meaningful conversations about ageing well at home. Rather than providing answers, Woonwijs helps people make more informed, thoughtful decisions about their future.
