I would like to say a HUGE thank you to regular volunteer Marmalade and her husband for donating a Nintendo Wii games console to the home.

The Nintendo Wii's Wii Sports has become a revelation in homes for the elderly all across the world, in the way that it helps them to remain active in their latter years. So big is the craze in the US, that cross-country tournaments have been known to be organised!

The Wii will provide both mental and physical stimulation for those residents that would like to join in and have a go. The staff and I will be providing supervision to all residents that would like to participate over the coming weeks and begin to integrate it into their health and wellbeing routines. You never know… we may even have a Valerie Manor Tournament in 2009!

The Wii machine is also being promoted as an exercise tool by the NHS. The elderly and infirm have been urged to embrace computer technology and exercise with a Nintendo Wii Fit console to help reduce their risk of falling. Read The Telegraph article for more information.

You can also find out more about how the Wii has been embraced in care homes throughout the country in the following BBC and Guardian articles:-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/7218103.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7637801.stm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/apr/30/health.longtermcare