Wii promotes social benefits among Arizona retirees

Gone are the days when kids and teenagers were the only ones hogging the video game console. With games such as Wii Sports currently available for the elderly as well as for their younger gaming counterparts, it’s no wonder that senior citizens have gotten caught up in the craze. This time around, the spotlight focuses on the Pueblo Norte retirement home in Arizona. More on elderly gaming after the jump.

Perhaps it’s a means of revisiting their youth. Perhaps it isn’t. Whatever the reason, the fact remains that elderly folks at the Pueblo Norte retirement home in Arizona have jumped on the senior citizen Wii bandwagon by enjoying virtual bowling, tennis, golf and boxing in Nintendo’s Wii Sports.

According to Jo Smith, director of recreation and programs at Pueblo Norte, the appeal of the Nintendo Wii goes beyond physical gameplay, making the console a catalyst for socialization as well:

It’s so good even for the people in skilled (a nursing home section) who can’t do it. They can watch, and the socialization of being out of their rooms and being with others is great.

Granted, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard of senior citizens enjoying Wii Sports; given the popularity of Nintendo’s console with the elderly, it probably won’t be the last time, either. Still it’s hardly a major surprise, especially after we’d heard that even dogs had gotten into the game as well.