Games aren’t just for kids.
Many senior centers across the country use Nintendo Wii, iPads, or other motion based gaming systems as an activity to help encourage movement. Not only does this type of activity provide a relatively safe form of exercise for the elderly, it can be a lot of fun, especially when played as a group activity. It’s not much of a stretch then to see smartphones becoming the next form of activity for people. With the Pokemon GO craze in full swing over the summer, some senior activity centers and rehabilitation centers are using the app to help improve physical fitness and health.
When it comes to physical therapy, this game has an added bonus: one center found that it got people who would normally not want to even go to their therapy sessions–even if it meant living with an otherwise temporary disability for the rest of their lives–and it got them excited about going to their next session. Patients were finding that they focused a lot less on “being in therapy” and more on the activity that they were partaking in. In other words, the hated task at hand was suddenly a longed for game.
Games like Pokemon GO do more than just help seniors get moving and have fun while doing so. Yes, those are the big things that you should look for when helping an elderly loved one find types of exercise that will be safe and benefit them, but games like the one above also encourage interaction. And that’s not just interaction between senior citizens, but between grandparents and their grandchildren. It is something that has the potential to be a family activity and bring different generations a little closer with a similar interest. One thing to take away from this is that games like Pokemon GO don’t need to be exclusively the domain of one generation, but by introducing this (or something else) to older members of the family, you can keep everyone happier and more active by simply playing games. An in-home care specialist can play games with your mom or dad while they receive care and sneak some exercise into their day, too. Activity and exercise is always far more enjoyable when there is a strong sense of fun included, and today’s technology makes this more possible than ever before.
There are also a lot of anecdotes out there about how games like this have helped individuals to beat anxiety and depression. This is common, actually. Not only does exercise help prevent these things, but games encourage socialization, which can also have a profound impact on mental health.
Exercise should be fun. Some people have referred to it as the adult version of play time, and in a way, that’s exactly what it can be. The goal isn’t to find something that bores you or your parent, but to find something that is exciting, challenging, and rewarding. Depending on interests and abilities, this will vary, but games are a good way to get started and stay motivated.
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