By Heather Posey
Staff Writer
The residents of Courtyard Care senior nursing and rehabilitation center in Signal Hill have got their game face on as they battle it out with the center’s latest craze, virtual sports on Nintendo Wii.
With wireless gaming and interactive programming, seniors and staffers have turned this video game phenomenon into an activity to help keep Courtyard Care residents young.
“I’m actually not much of a game person at all but this one kept me in my seat,” said resident Bill Mohr, who claims his favorite is the Wii tennis game.
The gaming program at Courtyard Care started two weeks ago by activities director Dennis Guray, who felt the Wii would be a fun activity that the seniors would enjoy. And with the system’s motion sensitive controller, a helpful tool for keeping them both mentally and physically stimulated.
“By clutching the Wii’s controller, the residents swipe the air as if they are holding a real racquet, bowling ball or golf club,” said Guray in a press release. “Their movements are translated into actions in the game.”
According to speech pathologist Vicky Hayes, utilizing the Nintendo Wii is a part of Courtyard Care’s ongoing commitment to help each of its patients to obtain the highest degree of independence possible by improving movement and function.
The Wii also encourages activity and competition among its participants regardless of whether or not they are playing.
“Not all 59 residents are fit to play, but they have a special participation to the program as the cheering squad for each team,” said Guray. “We will run a tournament. We’ll have medals, a league that’s run every week and a social bowl championship every last Friday of the month.”
Courtyard Care is the first facility to incorporate the activity into its rehabilitation program, but program director Dr. Manuel Rosario recommends trying out the program to help with balance, coordination, strength and fatigue, or at least remind them of the sports they played before entering the center.
“It brings them back to when they used to do these things like bowling and tennis and golfing,” said physical therapist Nancy Crosby. “They are so eager to play and even ask for strategy.”
Courtyard Care is located at 1880 Dawson Avenue in Signal Hill. For more information, call (562) 494-5188.
