Seniors enjoy a little "Wii-hab"
Able to stay active by playing virtual sports
Peter Marcus,
DDN Staff Writer
Thursday, June 21, 2008
They came with walkers, wheelchairs and oxygen tanks, ready to roll.Normally senior citizens living in retirement communities wouldn't be seen bowling. The balls are simply too heavy. But in the virtual world of Wii Sports, anything is possible.
Dozens of seniors from four local senior living communities gathered yesterday at the North JeffCo Community Recreation Center in Arvada to watch 12 peers battle it out for title of bowling "Wii Master". The 2008 Extreme Mind Games tournament was part of a national trend using Nintendo Wii as a means of physical and mental therapy. Occupational and physical therapists have been calling it "Wii-hab".
Yesterday's tournament included The Crossroads (Of Northglenn) "Knockouts", The Retreat at Church Ranch "Hester Pins", the Sunrise Senior Living "Wild Westies" and the San Marino (Retirement Community) "Strikers". Organizers say they are harnessing "nana-technolgy", technology your grandma can use.
Tons of fun
While the seniors themselves admit that Wii Bowling has helped with physical therapy, overall the consensus is simply that it's a ton of fun.
Eighty-seven-year-old Bill Alderson, representing the San Marino Strikers, said Wii Sports has allowed him to have fun again. He said he hasn't experienced this much joy since his wife Dixie passed away over three years ago. "We lived a good life, 59 years together, but you reach the end of the line sooner or later," he said. "I haven't found anything since then that I've been interested in besides this. It's something that came into my life that I've had fun with."
If you thought Alderson's been lonely since his wife passed on, you wouldn't have known it yesterday. Surrounded by a line of senior ladies dressed in the San Marino Strikers maroon colors, Alderson was the clear favorite yesterday.
Quite the likeness
As he shuffled up to the Wii screen and moved his "Mii" character (a stunning look-alike with thick square glasses and a bald head), a cheer came from behind him: "I'm betting on you, Bill. I've got big bucks on you." Alderson slowly moved the remote forward and took his swing -- strike! He qualified for the next round, turning to the crowd and saying, "Thank you all." "There's that good ol' Texas twist," shouted one San Marino supporter.
Ann Allen, president of the Denver-based chain of Home Instead Senior Care, said Wii-hab is being pushed in senior living communities throughout the region.
"It gives them something mental to think about that's also physical, instead of just sitting around and doing something like playing cards," she said. "This actually makes them move."
Ninety-four-year-old Marguerite Myers said Wii bowling has helped her heal from chronic physical ailments. "I've had a lot of trouble with both my shoulders and this has helped considerably," she said before competing for the Wild Westies.
Myers first tried her luck with Wii Golf, but said she "almost fell over". After that she's stuck to bowling, which she can do while still sitting in her wheelchair.
Cheering section
Meanwhile, the senior crowd continued to get behind their virtual bowlers.
Holding white pompoms, some of the silver-haired ladies cheered, "Two, four, six, eight, who do we appreciate?!"
The tournament ultimately came down to Alderson, Rosella Billinger of the Knockouts and Dee Procter-Gregg of the Hester Pins. Alderson, standing about 5-foot-6, hiked up his tan khaki pants just above his belly button, shuffled up to the line and prepared to roll. It wasn't good enough. While he bowled a respectable game, earning him third place, it was Billinger who placed second and Procter-Gregg who finished first. She won an all-expenses-paid party for her retirement home and a bowling trophy. Alderson and Billinger walked away with engraved medals.
All-in-all, Alderson said he learned an important lesson yesterday: "Don't play with women -- they'll beat you."
(http://www.thedenverdailynews.com/article.php?aID=807)