Episode 14:3 Dr. Bill Thomas on Spreading the Gospel of Gamification

The “Ambassador of Elderhood” talks about approaching aging as a “Team Sport.” His newest venture, PLAYING TO WIN, is a Global Symposium on Aging Magnificently presented by Lifespark in partnership with The Eden Alternative. The 10-week online educational series focuses on creating strength, purpose, and belonging through gamification, combating ageism, and shifting the focus of wellness from “Me” to “We.” 

About Dr. Bill

Dr. Bill Thomas is a physician, professor, entrepreneur, playwright, and performer whose wide-ranging work explores the terrain of human aging. His dedication to culture change and innovations for well-being led to him being named by the Wall Street Journal as one of the nation’s “Top 10 Innovators changing the future of retirement in America. He was also included in US News and World Report list of “America’s Best Leaders.”

Dr. Thomas is currently the Chief Independence Officer at Lifespark and the founder of PLAYING TO WIN, a Global Symposium on Aging Magnificently presented by Lifespark in partnership with The Eden Alternative.  Learn more and sign up here.

Key Takeaways

• Dr. Thomas wrote four books focused on enhancing strength, purpose and belonging: 1. Aging Magnificently, 2. MESH (Move, Eat, Sleep, Heal), 3. The Good Life, planning for a better future, and 4. Better Together, aging as a team sport.

• Older people are often missing risk in their lives, and risk is an essential ingredient of strength, purpose and belonging. Risk is defined as entering a situation where we don't know the outcome.

• Lifespark hosts four Performance Leagues with teams, prizes, and a competition schedule—a Triathlon Tournament, Forklift Racing, the Grip games focused on increasing grip strength, and the Spark Challenge, a quiz show about aging.

• A cruel manifestation of ageism is the notion that older people either rise or fall on their own. The ticket to healthy old age is reciprocity—where you depend on somebody and somebody depends on you. Wellness needs to shift to the level of community.