Monday, Jan. 26, 2009

Wii gets Tri-City seniors rolling

By Bethany Lee, Herald staff writer

Move over grandkids and hand over the Wii controller.

Residents in retirement and assisted living communities are finding a new way to play with the Nintendo Wii.

The video game console released in 2006 is gaining popularity among the older set, especially with the simulated bowling game on Wii Sports.

"Some of us play every day," said Hawthorne Court Assisted Living resident George Bauer, 87. "A lot of us are handicapped so they sit in a chair and bowl. We have fun."

Several assisted living communities in the area have a Wii and offer bowling tournaments as a way to get their residents moving and to have fun with each other.

"We have folks that normally wouldn't participate in group activities that have started playing the Wii," said Robin Pfenning, Hawthorne Court programs director. "It's a great ice breaker for new residents who have moved into our community. It's also good camaraderie between the residents."

Leisure Care Inc. has put a Wii in all of its Leisure Care communities, including Hawthorne Court in Kennewick. Pfenning said that of Hawthorne's 111 residents, about 25 play each week.

"It's really good for exercise," she said. "They can bowl standing, bowl sitting. We have the whole Wii Sports pack so we've tried the others but bowling seems to be the game of choice. You would be totally surprised at the agility of the age group that lives here."

Ethel Murri, 90, was on a bowling league when she was younger and enjoys Wii bowling at Hawthorne. While no one yet has bowled a perfect 300, Murri has scored an impressive 299.

"The whole thing is a little different than real bowling," she said.

Britney Vargas, Richland Gardens activity director, can attest to the Wii's positive impact on that facility's more than 90 residents.

"Some guys get down on themselves because they can't do things, but now with the Wii coming out they can do more and I hear them talk about it later with their friends," Vargas said.

"It's just cool. One lady literally throws her walker aside and I have to chase her down the lane. It's getting the guys who aren't active to come out and meet people."

Vargas and the Richland Gardens executive director had been tossing around the idea of bringing in a Wii for the past year. Now they have a Wii social hour Tuesdays at 1 p.m.

For most of the retirement home residents, the Wii is the first video game console they have played.

"At first we were trying to figure out what it was," said John Damaskos, 87, recalling when Pfenning first introduced the Wii. "I think we got better acquainted because of the Wii."

On Tuesday, Vargas is holding a Wii bowling tournament among Richland Gardens residents, complete with league T-shirts and trophies.

"(The Wii) really is going into all the nursing homes," she said. "It's just simple -- you toss it like you would a regular ball."

The Wii also has been bridging the age gap.

The Pasco Go Bowl Junior League held a tournament against Hawthorne Court residents on Saturday. About 24 junior bowlers between the ages of 5 and 18 showed up at the retirement home to play against 25 of Hawthorne's best. Pizza Hut in Kennewick donated pizza for the contestants.

"I wanted to see my kids get out there and do something with the community," said Sharon Shoup, the league director. "I wanted them to be able to share what they're doing, and what better way to share something bowling related?"

Pfenning said this was the first time Hawthorne's bowlers had somebody from the outside compete against them, but she said the residents often play with family members.

Hawthorne resident Lois Finkbeiner, 87, recently has been winning against her 24-year-old grandson, so she's not ready to change her winning style.

"One time there was a younger fellow in the lobby trying to show us how to spin the ball," Finkbeiner said. "That's too difficult for me. We enjoy it so much -- we don't want to change!"

Pfenning and Vargas said they're now looking for more group-oriented games available for the Wii since most of the residents have taken to it.

"Instead of their kids telling them about it, they're almost telling their grandkids about it," Vargas said. "You can't get any better than that."