Guest Tinki Report Share Posted July 23, 2007 Does anyone use the Nintendo Wii system in their facility. My nephews got one for the end of the school year and it looks really cool. "A distinguishing feature of the console is its wireless controller, the Wii Remote, which can be used as a handheld pointing device and can detect motion and rotation in three dimensions. Another is WiiConnect24, which enables it to receive messages and updates over the Internet while in standby mode." You can actually bowl with the hand held pointing device. I wonder if anyone has gotten on yet for their residents?? I think this would be great for facilities with a young population and men. Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tinki Report Share Posted July 23, 2007 I was just talking to my nephew Will and he said there is boxing, bowling, baseball, golf, and tennis. He said you put your arm through a wrist band and it is connected to the remote (this is wireless) that controls the game. So for instance your resident can stand or sit in front of the T.V. and go through the actions of swinging a golf club, or bowling the bowling ball down the lane. He said it is not cheap - he said it was 200- 300 bucks. I really want to do this!! Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trixiedg 0 Report Share Posted July 23, 2007 I have a video game called eye toy kinetic that goes with the Playstation 2. The eye toy is a gadget that serves as a small camera and projects you onto the screen, so you are actually on tv participating in the game. This game is really a fitness game that gives you things to punch or grab at. Some of the games require movement to avoid obstacles. They also have another game that uses the eye toy called Play 2 that has games that allow the player to hit a baseball, play tennis, or fight as a kung fu warrior. It says it has 12 games with 75 bonus games and can be played with multiple players. I plan to purchase the Play 3 that is to be released in October. If it is anything like the kinetic game, it will be worth its money. I have not tried it with my residents yet, but I plan to as soon as I have time to unhook everything and pack it up to take with me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandyatscr 0 Report Share Posted August 22, 2007 I actually had my admistrator suggest looking into getting the residents a wii. Im in the process of looking for one ( has been budgeted for just hard to get ahold of). The cost of it is 250.00 My hubby will be getting one for christmas as my mom already has bought one for us. I think a lot of the residents here will enjoy it and get exercise without realizing it. There are a lot of games that I think they would enjoy. Brain age is one that I plan on getting them as is the cooking one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sally 0 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 We've had one for 3 weeks. It is so much FUN!!! Staff members, youth volunteers & families are getting involved also. I highly suggest you get one somehow. Most people come to see what the laughter is all about because they could hear it at the other end of the hallway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tinki Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Here is an article on the Nintendo Wii - I have heard such good news on the Wii and Seniors http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dl...9/1022/LIVING02 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tinki Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 hey everyone, I was thinking about the Wii and starting think about the Guitar Hero and Rock Band games. Has anyone tried this with their seniors. Someone try it and let me know. I know this would be great for the younger high functioning population, but it would be interesting to see if it was possible for the High functioning, or Independent residents. Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
achskward 1 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Here is an article on the Nintendo Wii - check it out http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dl...9/1022/LIVING02 For those of you using the Wii in your LTC facilities, how has it been received? Im the supervisor for 11 buildings and we chose to purchase a wii system for 9 of our 11 buildings. Ive been able to purchase 7 so far, but these last 2 have been HELL!!! to get! Anyway, I think they will be a great benefit for our residents and I look forward to doing an in-service with them! hehe PS: I have one of my own and really enjoy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tinki Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Here are some more articles http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/c...,1,609357.story http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/21/wii-reit...itirement-home/ http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/samiljan/5868 http://techfreep.com/nintendo-targets-seni...rp-wii-demo.htm http://www.simplydumb.com/2007/03/29/wii-e...se-for-seniors/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BartMan 0 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 This is funny I keep hearing about this. We bought a Wii for our facility back in Sept. of last year. RT and OT use it on the higher functioning Residents and they absolutely LOVE it !!!! After we bought one , our local Newspaper did a story on it here in Tallahassee,Florida and then a couple months later we started hearing about it all over the place.... Not saying that we were the first but it is funny how it sort of spread everywhere after we bought one for ourselves. Coincidental.......... BartMan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hgrantham 0 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 where did yall find your wii game at? I have looked all over for one and no one seems to have any and they dont know when they will get any? Totally in desperate need of a wii game! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
achskward 1 Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 where did yall find your wii game at? I have looked all over for one and no one seems to have any and they dont know when they will get any? Totally in desperate need of a wii game! We've had a helluva time trying to find them. A co-worker and I just go to all the stores, ask them when their shipments will arrive, and make sure we are present when a shipment comes in. They all are telling us that they never know if they are going to get any Wii's in or not on any particular shipment. Best Buy, Target, Circuit City, Toys R Us, and Wal-Mart are all of the stores we are targeting. They are the only ones who will accept our tax exempt number. It's been a very tiring process, especially when these stores are all telling us that we can only buy one system per credit card. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yunakitty 2 Report Share Posted January 19, 2008 I have been badgering my ED for approval for one of these for months. It came up in the last Activities meeting (with the HA and DON there) and everyone agreed we need one and now we're all going to whine until we get one. Of course, part of the problem is the availability...even if I get approval to buy one, then I have to FIND one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOTH 0 Report Share Posted January 21, 2008 I purchased 2 wii systmes for my facility and I ahve to tell you that it has gone over HUGE . The game can be modified to any level of physical abilities . YOur residents can be totally independeent to total assiatnce , PROM and uses tehir abilities of tracking what is happening onteh screen . My young people love the graphics and the game slike Legdon of Zelda whiel my seniors are enjoying teh sports packages . We now have a resdeint and staff bowling league on Tuesday nights at teh facility ... the admin supplys teh pizza and sodas. I woudl reccommend have 4 remotes just for time considerations . Feel free to call me with any questions Dawn Choruouk 410-262-7483 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigchris 1 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 We are getting the Wii for Activities and the rehab services found about it and are paying for it! I played it at a friends house and was amazed! I will keep you updated. bigchris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavenstar 0 Report Share Posted March 6, 2008 Our nurse brought hers to the facility and "wii" had a Wii day. It was so amazing and everyone loved it. Our resident council approved to buy one and they are pestering me to get one--even if i have to wait in line! so coincidentally, this sunday, sam's club is opening at midnight to sell Wii's for a promotion and I was planning on being there a few hours early. I was telling my residents this and they agreed to help me! We are setting up shifts to wait in line. I will relieve the last person just a few hours before the store opens! This is how bad they want one! In fact, one gentleman has already started posting signs about a wii bowling tournament. If you want to check out a really awesome video on a wii bowling tournament from a retirement community, go to: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smbellevue 0 Report Share Posted March 6, 2008 Our nurse brought hers to the facility and "wii" had a Wii day. It was so amazing and everyone loved it. Our resident council approved to buy one and they are pestering me to get one--even if i have to wait in line! so coincidentally, this sunday, sam's club is opening at midnight to sell Wii's for a promotion and I was planning on being there a few hours early. I was telling my residents this and they agreed to help me! We are setting up shifts to wait in line. I will relieve the last person just a few hours before the store opens! This is how bad they want one! In fact, one gentleman has already started posting signs about a wii bowling tournament. If you want to check out a really awesome video on a wii bowling tournament from a retirement community, go to: We've had our Wii about 2 weeks and they are having a blast. I have a teenager in on the weekends & she suggested it. When we talked to our administrator, he thought it was great and even went on-line & found us one with the sprot game pack for $350! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigchris 1 Report Share Posted March 9, 2008 Still looking to get a Wii, they are impossible to find in Atlanta, so that is the latest hurdle. We are getting the Wii for Activities and the rehab services found about it and are paying for it! I played it at a friends house and was amazed! I will keep you updated. bigchris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
achskward 1 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 For those of you that have these at your facilities, what kind of rules to you have set forth for the staff, including other staff than recreation staff? Also, what are your ways to keep the Wii System secure when you are not there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hgrantham 0 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 For those of you that have these at your facilities, what kind of rules to you have set forth for the staff, including other staff than recreation staff? Also, what are your ways to keep the Wii System secure when you are not there? Well at our facility i have an activity closet that i can lock so i lock it up in there when i am not here. As for staff using the wii it is not allowed says our don do to that they could be doing other important things for our resident, just leave them games to the activity and therapy staff. You could also get a fire saftey box to lock it up in and then lock your activity office then hopefully it would be safe there, and or you could lock it up in your admin, office thoes are just some of the things i do sometimes. hope that helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoanneA1 0 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 Thank you for the information on the Wii game system. I asked our Adminitrator for this system, I thought it would be great for the residents to play along with. Especially in the winter months, when the weather is too cold for them to go out in. I can't wait until our renovations are thru and we can use it on our big screen TV. Should be great! Thanks again for all the posts. Joanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavenstar 0 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 I finally got a Wii for our facility! Sam's even had 2-- so I was able to buy one for my home as well! The residents are so excited about this. Last year, the residents bought a large flat screen plasma TV for the community room and the Wii looks great on it. We will be playing once a week to start. Also, we had a cabinet built last year to hold the DVD, Receiver, Speakers and other electronic componets for the TV that has a lock on it, so our Wii will be safe. As far as staff playing, they can play as long as their work is done or during lunch or afterwards. They can also play with the residents as this encourages good relationships between them. Ebay has lots of Wii's for sale-- you will pay more though. What I had started doing was calling all gamestops, targets, walmarts, Sams' everyday to ask if they had received the systems. I also asked when their UPS trucks made deliveries, as this helped me time my calls. Of course, the one day I got busy and couldn't make the calls, three stores received Wii's and by the time I called, they were sold out. This would be a good volunteer job for a resident to do though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonnaR 0 Report Share Posted June 7, 2008 We have recently purchased a Nintendo Wii game console after my administrator said we had to get one -- no if's ands or but's! We tried it for the first time yesterday and it did not go well because the residents had a very difficult time trying to operate the remote control. It requires holding onto a switch with your fore finger on the back of the remote then letting go of the switch at just the right moment. This was really hard for them to do and many of them got very discouraged. I've read many news articles about how much seniors in nursing homes love this game, but I am now questioning whether or not this is the right game for my residents. Has anyone had any experience with a Nintendo Wii in their facility? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandie 0 Report Share Posted June 8, 2008 We have a WII and it depends on what group I am working with, if I deal with my YG group (younger generation) mostly woman with MS, than no I can not use it, their abilities to handle the controls are not there, if I have my mens group than most of them can as long as they are the higher functioning. it seems that anyone that is in the middle stages of alzheimers, demetia, etc.....have a difficult time using the controls, but they sure have fun watching others make a fool of themselves. You have to experiment with it, my 108 year old lady loves to bowl with it, and she is very good. You might be surprised at who can and who can't. Good luck, sandie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karmada 0 Report Share Posted June 8, 2008 (edited) We have recently purchased a Nintendo Wii game console after my administrator said we had to get one -- no if's ands or but's! We tried it for the first time yesterday and it did not go well because the residents had a very difficult time trying to operate the remote control. It requires holding onto a switch with your fore finger on the back of the remote then letting go of the switch at just the right moment. This was really hard for them to do and many of them got very discouraged. I've read many news articles about how much seniors in nursing homes love this game, but I am now questioning whether or not this is the right game for my residents. Has anyone had any experience with a Nintendo Wii in their facility? My facility has also recently purchased a Wii and it seems to be a double edged sword. Some residents love it, while others become frustrated, as yours have with the controller. I think I may try to intergrate the Wii into my 1:1's so that I can spend more time with the residents that are having problems and teach them the proper technique. I do agree that holding the button down on the back and bringing the arm forward while releasing it (re:bowling) is challenging for most of my residents. I am hoping with time and patience my residents and I will get the hang of it and enjoy it more. Edited June 8, 2008 by karmada Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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