What’s a great way for seniors to stay active? Walking regularly will do the trick. So will swimming. But what about video games?
When you think of gaming, senior living might not be the first thing that comes to mind. At Harrogate, however, it’s just another Harrogatunity being showcased by our residents.
In this case, we’re talking about John and Marie Marcolla. They took up Nintendo® Wii earlier this year and they love it! John and Marie have always stayed active, and the Wii™ has provided yet another opportunity to remain involved. Rather than other game systems, which mostly involve the user sitting down and working the game from a controller, the Wii gives John and Marie an excuse to get up and move!
“We love bowling!” says Marie. “Our fitness director, Becky Harris, sets it up for us, and we play once a week. It’s great!”
In fact, recent studies have shown that video games are good for your health. There’s no question the Wii helps you move around, but games have also been shown to help improve balance and memory.
For Marie, video games were never on the radar before she moved to Harrogate.
“I had tried the Wii at my daughter’s house, but never owned a system or anything like that,” says Marie. “Now I play weekly!”
December marks the 30th Anniversary of the release of the original Nintendo Entertainment System, and it’s safe to say the technology has come a long way since the days of Mario and Luigi saving Princess Peach! In those days, the system was geared toward children and younger adults. Today, it’s mainstream. Just ask John, Marie, and many of their friends at Harrogate.
Check out the story at the Asbury Park Press!