Nintendo Wii in Care Homes, Good Idea?

Nintendo Wii in care homes, good idea?

Have you considered introducing a Nintendo Wii into your care home?  If so, is anyone going to be screening the service users so you have an idea of what to expect?  This could become an insurance issue if approached without thought or preparation.  It is essential that service users don’t use these machines without their carers understanding what the risks could be.

Tony Duke has been suggesting care teams consider using a pre-activity health assessment.  In fact since Tony bought a Nintendo Wii and developed a ‘Wii shoulder’, he is recommending this idea!  

Tony trains carers and care teams how to deliver seated therapeutic physical activities and he’s always looking for new ways of promoting and encouraging social, physical and mental stimulation for less able and/or older adults.

Tony says: “I’d heard some personal trainers were using the Wii for workouts so I knew I should review its suitability for my own clients.  I feel the Wii does have potential benefits for use in the care sector if approached correctly.  Like all physical games there are inherent risks, so the abilities and limitations need to be considered for each person.  As long as they have been assessed for their suitability and more importantly they really want to give it a go - why not?

Imagine a person who hasn’t played tennis for 10+ years, would you presume they can safely ‘play’ on a Wii for 60 minutes?  Assessments happen daily in our environment as our service users are constantly reviewed, so we can apply similar practices when looking at activities with games consoles. 

Remember, these new types of activities can become as physically and mentally demanding as the real sports so it is our responsibility to take a good look at what is suitable or practical when considering using them.  On a more positive note, think what might happen when service users begin playing bowling, golf or tennis with a Wii and this can be even better if played on a large screen, with an audience!

These days graphics are clear, the sounds are crisp and there are even vibrating hand controllers for realistic effects.  There’s no need to get out of a chair either, so this would appear perfect for service users with walking or standing issues, as most games have been specifically designed to be played from a chair or wheel chair, however you should note that sometimes the chair arms can get in the way!

If you’ve observed someone playing the Wii, you will understand how hard it is NOT to laugh and join in the fun.  Participants can also experience mental/physical stimulation and even social interaction if played with others. 

So, is the Nintendo Wii a good addition to an activity programme?  Yes, I believe it can be as long as the risks are assessed, it is fully supervised and the usage is recorded as part of the clients care plan.

Tony Duke, trainer and consultant.                                                    www.vitalyz.com