Residents of Muskoka Landing Long Term Care Centre will soon get the opportunity to participate in their favourite sports indoors with the arrival of a new Nintendo Wii.

Pamm Griffin, activation co-ordinator at Muskoka Landing, indicated that upon hearing from other nursing homes that Nintendo Wii was benefiting residents, the activation department put a request out to Jarlette Health Services in January to purchase the game system. Shortly after, Jarlette Health Services, the company that owns Muskoka Landing, replied back that approval had been granted and the Ninteno Wii would be arriving at the care facility by mid-March.

“It’s new and exciting and the staff and residents are looking forward to it,” said Griffin. “While there was an interest from our department because it would be beneficial to some of the residents, and with the new generation of residents coming in, it will also be beneficial.”

Griffin went on to say that the Nintendo Wii will only be used by selected residents who have been identified as individuals who would benefit from using the game system. With games such as bowling, tennis, golf, ping pong and table hockey, among others, playing Nintendo Wii is beneficial for enhancing eye-hand co-ordination and providing mental stimulation as well as giving residents the chance to participate in friendly competition.

“Other homes that have already trialed and implemented it have found great results using Nintendo Wii,” stated Griffin. “It stimulates them (residents) emotionally and what’s great is that they’re doing something they’ve done in the past. It also stimulates them intellectually because they have to follow instructions and directions. They learn something new, plus the physical movement is good for them.”

On March 12, during Muskoka Landing’s staff appreciation day, which is hosted by the Friends of Muskoka Landing, staff will be trained on how to use the game system. Admitting it will be a learning curve to some, Griffin said that the Nintendo Wii will be used by groups of four residents for 30-minutes at a time.

“We assess residents on a monthly or quarterly basis, and if the program meets their needs, they will be encouraged to participate,” she said. “Restorative care is also looking how to implement it (Nintendo Wii) in their department.”

The Nintendo Wii is the fifth home video game console released by Nintendo. A distinguishing feature of the console is its wireless controller, known as the Wii Remote, which can be used as a handheld pointing device and can detect acceleration and orientation in three dimensions.