Episode 2: Game On Grandma, Listen Up, Quiet Down the Pickleballs, and Pack Your Bags
February 5, 2026
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Liberty Senior Living is happy to present Episode 2 of Liberty Connects. It is packed with useful information, humor, and plenty of conversation starters. As always the episode is divided into five quick segments, each designed to spark ideas, challenge assumptions, and celebrate living well at every age.
Our host, Lisa Fielding, kicks things off with What’s This Button Do?
Game on Grandma is our playful look at grandma video gamers and how older adults are quietly taking over the gaming world one level at a time.
The next segment is Living Better.
Hear Me Out: Your Ears Deserve Better ‘tunes’ in to the world of trendy hearing aids and why modern options look more like smart wellness tools than medical devices.
Following that is the Matters that Matter segment.
Pickleball: The Pop Heard Round the Neighborhood takes us to court…The pickleball court, to explore the sport everyone loves along with the noise debate no one can quite escape.
Next is the The Now List segment.
The New Era of Exploration takes listeners on the road and across the globe highlighting how older adults are redefining adventure and exploration.
And finally, we wrap things up with The Wisdom Exchange.
In this episode it features a lighthearted but practical and all too relatable Quest for a Real Live Customer Service Human.
Looking Ahead
Next month’s episode of Liberty Connects will explore AI, what we should call our favorite demographic, polypharmacy, scams, and the power of the nose.
Five segments, roughly five minutes each, one engaging episode. Tune in and enjoy the journey.
Liberty Connects is an invitation to stay curious, stay connected, and enjoy every chapter of life.
Liberty Connects can be enjoyed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts, iHeart Radio, Podbean, and YouTube. For additional information, visit LibertySeniorLIving.com.
Listen to Liberty Connects and discover what’s next.
Resources
Liberty Senior Living
Gaming
Hearing Aides
Pickleball
Travel
TIME STAMPS
| 0:00 | Introduction |
| 0:32 | Game on Grandma |
| 4:48 | Hear Me Out-Your Ears Deserve Better |
| 9:13 | Pickleball: The Pop Heard Round the Neighborhood |
| 13:15 | New Era of Exploration |
| 18:25 | The Quest for a Real Live Customer Service Human |
| 23:00 | Conclusion |
Transcript
What Does This Button Do?
Game On Grandma! How Seniors Became the Unexpected Stars of Modern Gaming
Picture the typical people glued to their screens, thumbs flying, eyes locked in fierce concentration while ignoring the world around them. If you visualized teenagers in hoodies or twenty-somethings in dim basements, it is time to adjust that image.
The real gaming champion just might be your grandma. And do not underestimate her. She just might beat you.
It may come as a surprise, but millions of older adults are active and enthusiastic gamers. Adults over 50 make up nearly a third of all gamers in the United States. With about 205 million people ages five to ninety playing, that includes roughly 57 million seniors, according to the Entertainment Software Association. When you realize the industry brought in almost 60 billion dollars in 2024, you start to understand how huge this trend has become.
Half of the players, ages 61 to 79, game every week. That is not an occasional round of solitaire. That is dedicated, full-on gaming. Most play on mobile devices, though plenty also use computers, game consoles, and virtual reality headsets.
Seniors are powering on their gaming systems for the same reasons everyone else does. Gaming is fun, social, engaging, and just challenging enough to awaken a competitive streak that may have been quietly waiting since family board game nights. It delivers the joy of solving problems, conquering levels, and exploring new worlds, all while disguising mental effort as play.
Science is on their side. The National Institutes of Health has noted that video games can act as a form of cognitive training, keeping the brain engaged and motivated. Benefits include sharper attention and faster processing speed, improved memory and learning, better hand-eye coordination, improved balance from motion-based games, reduced isolation through multiplayer play, and better mood with lower stress. In other words, it is far more stimulating than watching the same sitcom rerun for the fifth time. It also gives people who may not travel or move as easily a way to explore, interact, and feel a sense of mastery without leaving home.
And then there is the real magic. Intergenerational bonding. Gaming gives grandparents and grandchildren a shared language. A Minecraft adventure or a round of Mario Kart becomes a standing date filled with laughter, playful trash talk, and bragging rights that carry over to the next rematch.
You might find grandpa teaming up with his grandchildren in Grand Theft Auto or grandma cruising past level fifty in Candy Crush while someone a fraction of her age is still asking for extra lives. It is proof that fun has no age limit and that competitive spirit never truly retires.
Many games resonate with seniors because they are creative, relaxing, strategic, or easy to learn yet satisfying to master.
Current favorites include
Animal Crossing New Horizons for creativity and a sense of accomplishment;
Minecraft for teamwork and imagination;
Super Mario games for timeless fun across generations. Fun fact: the seniors playing Mario now may have been among the first to engage when it was introduced 40 years ago
Tetris or Sudoku apps for puzzle-based brain training;
and Lumosity or Peak for cognitive challenges.
With thousands of choices, there is something for every personality and every interest.
Seniors are proving that gaming is not just for the young. It is for anyone who is young at heart. And let’s be honest, many of them are way cooler than they get credit for.
If you want to meet true gaming legends, skip the arcade. Look to the players who bring decades of life experience, competitive grit, and a fearless approach to learning something new. From Mario to Minecraft to virtual reality, these senior gamers prove that legends are not born in basements. They are built over time, and they are still very much in the game.
Living Better
Hear Me Out. Your Ears Deserve Better!
Millions of people could benefit from hearing aids, yet many still shy away from them. Not because they miss the signs of hearing loss, but because hearing aids have long had an image problem. For decades, they were associated with bulky devices, awkward whistling, and the quiet fear that wearing them officially meant you were old. Meanwhile, untreated hearing loss quietly causes far more trouble than a tiny device ever could. It steals punchlines, muddles conversations, and turns family gatherings into exhausting guessing games. When hearing fades, connection often fades with it.
Our ears work hard for us every day. They help us communicate, stay aware of our surroundings, keep our balance, and fully engage with the world. Johns Hopkins Medicine reports that when hearing loss goes unaddressed, the effects go well beyond sound. Research shows it can contribute to isolation, depression, cognitive decline, balance problems, and safety risks such as missing alarms or emergency instructions. Hearing loss is not just about turning the television way up, or saying “huh?” one too many times. It is about quality of life.
Hearing loss is more common than many people realize or care to admit. The National Institute on Aging reports that 30-35% of adults ages 65-75 have hearing loss, and that increases to 40-50% at the age of 75 and older. This is often due to natural wear and tear on the delicate structures of the inner ear. Other contributors can include diabetes, high blood pressure, certain medications, infections, stroke, or head injuries. Younger generations are not immune either. Constant exposure to loud music, headphones, concerts, and noisy environments has led to hearing damage appearing earlier in life. In other words, this is not just an aging issue. It is a modern living issue.
The good news is that hearing aids have gone through an impressive evolution. Early hearing devices date back centuries and were little more than sound funnels carved from metal or wood. Today’s options look nothing like that. Modern hearing aids are small, light, and smart. Many are nearly invisible, while others are intentionally sleek and stylish. Instead of being something to hide, they are increasingly designed to be worn with confidence.
Much of this evolution can be credited to baby boomers. As a generation that values active, independent lifestyles, boomers pushed hearing technology out of the medical corner and into the wellness space. They see technology as a tool to support health, mobility, and engagement. As a result, hearing aids are now often marketed as hearables or wellness gadgets, connecting seamlessly to smartphones and other devices. Many models stream phone calls and music, reduce background noise, and automatically adjust to different environments. Many include rechargeable batteries, finally putting an end to the tiny battery struggle that has tested patience and eyesight for decades.
Technology continues to raise the bar. Artificial intelligence now allows hearing aids to learn user preferences and adapt in real time. Instead of relying on fixed settings, they analyze surroundings and optimize sound automatically, helping users hear more clearly whether they are in a quiet room or a crowded restaurant. Some advanced devices even include wellness features that track activity, movement, and overall engagement.
There are more options than ever, including audiologist prescribed hearing aids, over the counter devices for mild to moderate hearing loss, and assistive products designed for specific situations. Apple AirPod Pros now include features approved by the FDA for some people with mild to moderate hearing loss. For individuals with more severe hearing loss, cochlear implants can be life-changing, and expanded Medicare coverage has made them more accessible.
The bottom line is simple. Hearing aids are no longer symbols of decline. They are tools for living well. Discreet, stylish, and increasingly powerful, they help people stay connected to conversations, laughter, and the moments that matter most. Because life sounds better when you can actually hear it.
Matters That Matter
Pickleball: The Pop Heard Round the Neighborhood
During this segment, we will volley ideas, dink into the details, and smash out the facts as we talk about the sport that has America in a full-blown frenzy. It is fun. It is friendly. It is fast-growing, and sort of a big ‘dill’.
That’s right-it’s pickleball.
This sport has climbed the charts for good reason. It is wonderfully easy to learn. It does not require heroic athletic powers. It welcomes people of all ages and fitness levels. The rules are clear and so simple they practically explain themselves. It is low-cost, low-pressure, and high fun. Best of all, it is incredibly social. Players meet up for a quick game and leave with new friends, new group chats, and sometimes even a cool new nickname…like Dinkasaurus Rex; The Drop Shot Diva or The Lob Father.
The game brings people together in the happiest way. Courts become community hubs where movement and conversation come naturally. It is connection disguised as a sport, and for many folks, that is the real win.
The existence of pickleball courts is a valued amenity at active senior living communities such as Liberty Senior Living’s Wellington Bay in Wellington Florida; Hayes Barton Place in Raleigh, and The Barclay in Charlotte. Wellington Bay’s passionate pickleball club, run by residents, has even hosted national pickleball star Alex Pop Moldovan to provide pickleball instruction
But every success story comes with a twist, and this one arrives with a very distinctive pop. Actually, many pops. A near constant chorus of pops that some people adore and others would prefer to mute with a giant imaginary remote control.
The high-frequency sound created when the paddle smacks the ball is crisp and sharp. Some find it delightfully snappy and satisfying. Others hear it as a tiny woodpecker drilling directly into their patience. And when there are multiple games happening side-by -side, the gentle click becomes a full-fledged percussion section. The result is rising complaints and even lawsuits. Experts say the nonstop sound can cause distress, irritate nerves, disrupt sleep, and stir up anxiety. In other words, pickleball is serving joy on the courts and grievances on the sidelines.
Communities across the country are working hard to avoid getting stuck in a pickle. Engineers, neighbors, and city planners are brainstorming solutions that allow the game to stay lively without making everybody else feel like they are living inside a popcorn machine. Proposals include softer balls, quieter paddles, and equipment made with noise-reducing features. Sound-dampening fences, walls, and special balls are being tested. Some suggest placing courts at least 250 feet from homes or angling them so that sound projects away from bedrooms and back patios.
Others encourage bringing the fun indoors or placing courts near airports, busy roads, or industrial areas, where the background noise already has its own soundtrack. And in many places, curfews and designated play hours are becoming part of the conversation, at least in theory, even if players do not always rush to wrap up a great rally simply because the clock says so.
Through it all, pickleball keeps growing. The joy of the game is irresistible. It is simple. It is welcoming. It is inexpensive. It helps people stay active and make connections that feel real. For every complaint about the noise, there are entire groups of players cheering, laughing, and popping their paddles with absolute delight.
So here is the takeaway. Pickleball may be a little loud, but it also brings a whole lot of life with it. The trick is finding ways to keep the fun in play while turning the volume down to a friendlier level. As the code is cracked, pickleball can continue being the great sport that so many people ‘relish.’
The Now List
A New Era of Exploration
Older adults are on the move, and the travel world is rolling out the proverbial red carpet.
The jump in travelers over the age of 50 packing suitcases, renewing passports, and chasing adventure has become one of the most remarkable trends in travel today. Far from slowing down, the silver generation is shaping where people go, how long they stay, and what modern travel looks like for everyone.
AARP Travel Trends shows that 70% of Americans age 50 and older plan to travel this year, up from 65% last year. They expect to take almost four trips and spend nearly $7,000 per person, officially making them the most influential travelers on the map. In other words, if wanderlust had a board of directors, seniors would be running the meeting.
Why the surge? It may trace back to 2007 when Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman made the term bucket list famous. Since then, people have become more intentional about their experiences as they age. Travel feels rewarding and exciting. It boosts mood and movement, sparks learning, and offers a well-earned break from everyday routine.
International destinations are welcoming growing numbers of older adventurers. Italy, Great Britain, France, Spain, Ireland, and Mexico remain top picks. Within the United States, favorites include Florida, California, Las Vegas, New York, Texas, and Arizona. Some travelers are staying away for an extended period of time through popular month-long living programs designed for retirees, proving that immersive travel is having its moment.
Specialized tools add freedom and fun. There are excellent resources to help travelers find accessible destinations and itineraries. Online platforms and mobile apps such as Booking.com, Expedia, Travelocity, Kayak and Google Flights help find bundles and deals that may include flights, vacation homes and hotels, excursions, and more, to simplify planning. And those experimenting with artificial intelligence tools are finding them surprisingly handy for organizing itineraries. Even the most seasoned travel pros sometimes like a robot to suggest where to go next.
Technology helps in other ways too, including at the airport. Facial recognition speeds security along. New CT scanners increasingly mean electronics and liquids can stay in your bag. Processes that once caused stress now feel far more predictable and friendly. You might even be able to keep your shoes on as you go through security.
Older adults say mobility accommodations make them more likely to travel, and the industry is listening. Travel is easier and safer than ever, thanks to significant improvements including smoother walkways, accessible guest rooms, and easier transportation options.
And mobility devices are getting both sleeker and cooler. Take the Alinker, for example. It is a pedal-less walking bike where riders sit on a seat and propel themselves with their feet….Sort of like a scooter for adults who want to feel and get around like kids again. Rollators are like tricked-out walkers, with three or four wheels, hand brakes, a built-in seat, and storage. They help provide support and balance and enhance endurance. With the option to brake, park, and sit whenever needed, rollators offer more freedom, turning long distances into something closer to a stroll than a chore.
Group travel continues to be a hit for its built-in companionship and stress-free planning. Tour groups offer curated experiences, helpful guidance, and chances to meet other enthusiastic travelers. At the same time, solo travel is booming among those who prefer to chart their own course and go where and when they darn well want to.
Older adults are in the enviable position of being able to find creative ways to keep traveling. Off peak trips offer lower prices and lighter crowds. Shorter getaways, domestic adventures, and flexible planning all help people keep exploring.
A significant perk of living in a senior living community is the lock-and-leave lifestyle it provides. Residents can simply lock their doors and leave for a day, a week, or escape the cold Midwest for the duration of winter. They can do so well in advance or on the spur of the moment without worrying about their mail, clearing their sidewalks, or any of the responsibilities of home maintenance while they’re gone.
Motivations vary, but the heart of travel is the same. People want to spend time with loved ones, deepen their sense of purpose, experience new cultures, learn new things, and step outside their comfort zone. After years of working, giving, and planning for others, travel becomes a gift they can finally give themselves.
The message is clear. Older adults are not slowing down. They are redefining travel with energy, curiosity, and a healthy sense of adventure. Here is to more journeys, more joy, more memories and more frequent flyer miles waiting just beyond the next boarding pass.
A Few Things Worth Passing Along
The Quest for a Real Live Customer Service Human
We are proud to celebrate victories: big or small, honoring triumphs that make modern life bearable. In this segment of Liberty Connects, we have bravely ventured out on your behalf, to explore a creature many believe to be extinct or mythical. No, not the woolly mammoth, Sasquatch, nor the unicorn. We are talking about something far more elusive.
A real human in customer service.
Yes, customer service. A term that has become so ironic it could headline its own comedy tour. Calling customer service is a process that invites you in with a friendly recorded voice and then traps you in an automated maze until you forget why you called. But fear not. Grab your favorite beverage and your sense of humor because today we are arming you with ways to reach an actual person who can help you.
Let us begin tackling this problem with the oldest trick in the book. When you call customer service to log a concern or complaint and the ‘friendly’ robot asks you to pick from seventeen menu options, press zero.
Then press zero again.
Then press zero with feeling.
Press zero with intensity.
Press zero with hope.
A viral TikTok video recently suggested an even more dramatic approach. Press zero, pound, zero, pound, zero, pound. When tested, this tactic worked more often than not, which in the world of customer service is practically a miracle. Not guaranteed, of course, but surprising enough that it is worth a try.
Another surprisingly effective method to reaching customer service is to choose any department other than customer service. Need billing support. Great. Choose sales. Need tech support. Choose accounts payable. Need help because your toaster burst into flame. Go with corporate relations. Sometimes these departments answer faster and can route you to the right person before the robotic voice finishes its scripted welcome message.
Now, if all else has failed thus far, we reach the more whimsical strategies. When the automated system asks you to explain your problem, try speaking complete gibberish. If the robot cannot decipher what you’re ‘saying’, it may connect you to a living person out of pure confusion. Another option is to give the system the silent treatment. Do not respond to the prompts at all. Or answer each request with a single repeated word like ‘complaint’ or ‘human being.’ These approaches have been known to confuse or exhaust the machine into surrender.
For another approach, try entering incorrect information when prompted. Get your account or order number wrong. Spectacularly wrong. After a few failed attempts the system may assume you need human assistance and route you to an agent.
You can also try responding to prompts by selecting the Spanish language option. Even if you do not speak Spanish, the agent you reach may be bilingual and often much faster at navigating the internal system than whatever slow moving option you were first assigned.
If you are interacting with a chat box, do not despair when it metaphorically throws up its ‘hands’ in dismay and says it cannot help. Your goal at this point, is not to have the chat box solve your problem. The goal is to make the system realize you need and in fact, deserve, a live person to step in. And that’s what you want to have happen! Furthermore, chat boxes often maintain and pass along transcripts which can help you avoid repeating your entire story three times while also documenting conversations and promises.
Next on our list actually extends beyond the phone call; to try every available channel for connecting. You can send an email through the online form on the company’s website. You can start a live chat. You can text. You can message the company on social media and gently but persistently ask for help. Companies do not love public complaints, so you may find yourself suddenly receiving very personal attention.
Through all of this, remember to stay calm and take notes. Record names, dates, and details. The act of writing things down not only helps you if the issue escalates, it also gives you a comforting sense of control in an otherwise chaotic process.
So there you have it. Your modern field guide to the rare and magical customer service human and subsequent resolution. May your calls be short, your transfers minimal, and your patience rewarded with someone who actually knows how to help.
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