Physical action gaming and fun as a tool within elderly care : Game over or play it again and again…

How can we support elderly living in special housing to be active and on the move?Around Europe and US there is a rapidly growing interest for use of computer games encouragingphysical motion, such as the Nintendo Wii, within healthcare and rehabilitation. We report a studywhere we introduced and used this game at a special housing for old people with severe dementia inOckelbo in Sweden. It was supposed to be a pilot-study during one month but the growing interestamong all involved, especially the players, led to an over six month long study. An example is 91-yearold Elsa saying “the motivation to win is still present”, “It is really exciting and fun – we have a matchevery day”. Examples of comments from the caregivers are “The ones I thought would never do thishas been the ones that liked it the most and has played a lot”, “This is not something especially for oldpeople, everyone does it”, “we need to change the repertoire of activities we propose for our elderly –me myself would get crazy if I when old were to be put in a room using potato-printing techniques ontable clothes”.Bridging the gap between differences in physical abilities to be able to play, compete or meet on anequal arena is tricky within elderly care. A conclusion is that Wii managed to bridge part of that gap,another that many of the elderly like to be more physically active, when the opportunities and thetechnologies are accessible for them.QC 2012020