| If you think that video games are for lazy teenagers | | | | with the help of a video game like the Nintendo Wii |
| or adult couch potatoes only, think again. Once you | | | | Golf. |
| start reaching your ‘golden’ age or if you | | | | You can enjoy it as part of the Wii Sports collection |
| are way past your 60s and 70s, your heart, body | | | | which includes a series of five sports simulations: |
| and mind can use the adrenaline rush brought about | | | | tennis, baseball, golf, bowling and boxing. So, how |
| by the modern gaming devices which are available | | | | exactly will the Wii Golf help seniors have a pretty |
| today. | | | | good workout – with the help of a video game |
| Why Video Games Aren’t Just For Kids | | | | console? [Balance Exercises For Seniors] |
| Anymore? | | | | The Wii Remote is the key. What it does is mimic |
| So what exactly are the benefits that grandma and | | | | the actions performed in real life sports. |
| grandpa can get from playing Wii, online games, | | | | Let’s say that you have swung the Wii Remote |
| PlayStation 2 or similar gaming devices? There’s | | | | which you will be using as a golf club, its mechanism |
| actually a lot more to video gaming than you may | | | | will detect how strong or how gentle your golf swing |
| actually think. | | | | is, and the results will be seen on the screen. |
| A good number of studies in the past have shown | | | | 4. Dancing with the Stars |
| that playing video games has many positive benefits | | | | Whether or not you’re a fan of the show that |
| to senior health. For young people, one of the | | | | the video game is based on, you will have a blast |
| benefits of playing video games is to sharpen their | | | | playing the “Dancing with the Stars” video |
| problem-solving abilities. Video games are even known | | | | game. Released in October 2007, the game has PC |
| to improve the skills of a surgeon in the operating | | | | and online versions, and is also available in Wii, PC, |
| table. | | | | mobile and PlayStation 2 platforms. |
| Now, to give you an idea about the health benefits | | | | If you will get the PlayStation 2 or Wii formats of |
| that older people will enjoy, take a look at the | | | | the game, that is when you will have the best time |
| following list: | | | | exercising because it comes with the dance pad. |
| 1. According to the Psychology and Aging magazine, | | | | Basically, you will enjoy a physical workout while |
| playing complex video games after receiving training | | | | playing a video game at the same time. |
| may improve the cognitive functions of seniors. This | | | | 5. Tetris |
| is one the functions which typically decline with age. | | | | Whether it’s a game installed on your mobile |
| 2. Aside from improving their cognitive functions, | | | | phone, your computer or a gaming console, the |
| video games which require seniors to juggle multiple | | | | classic blocks game of Tetris will provide a lot of |
| tasks may also improve their ability to perform some | | | | benefits for you as a senior. |
| other everyday tasks in the ‘real world’. | | | | When you use the arrow keys on your keyboard to |
| 3. Researches done in the past also indicated that | | | | play the game and you’re at an advanced level, |
| video games such as the ones provided by Nintendo | | | | your quick thinking skills will be sharpened. Hand-eye |
| and Wii can be successfully used to doctor seniors | | | | coordination and logical thinking are the other benefits |
| with Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease | | | | that you will get from playing this game. |
| and other illnesses of a psychological or psychosocial | | | | 6. NASCAR 09 |
| nature. | | | | Bring out the risk-taking race car driver in you with |
| 4. Preliminary studies have shown that strategy video | | | | the NASCAR 09 video game. It comes in the |
| games may help older adults in keeping their brains | | | | following formats: PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and |
| razor sharp. | | | | Xbox 360. If you’re not into race car driving, you |
| Since you will be playing with the aid of a joystick, | | | | can try the other driving and flying video games, |
| video games can help improve your eye-hand | | | | which will keep your wits razor sharp. |
| coordination. | | | | 7. Guild Wars |
| To sum it all up, what video games do is keep an | | | | This PC game is available in Windows format only, |
| aging brain young – which is why they bring forth | | | | and is developed by ArenaNet. It’s an episodic |
| a multitude of benefits for a senior’s overall | | | | series of role-playing games on multiplayer online |
| health. And with the introduction of Wii | | | | mode. |
| fitness-themed games, who says that they can’t | | | | Guild Wars is in fact popular with both the younger |
| enjoy the physical benefits of video games as well? | | | | and the older crowd – so you’ll have plenty |
| Top 10 Video Games to Improve Senior Health | | | | of youthfulness to keep you company while the |
| After learning about the benefits of using video | | | | game sharpens your wits at the same time. |
| games to improve senior health, which games should | | | | 8. If there’s one online video gaming site that is |
| you borrow from your grand kids? Here are the top | | | | popular with the over-40 crowd, that is none other |
| 10 video games which help improve senior health: | | | | than The site is suitable for seniors who are not |
| 1. Brain Age and Brain Age2 | | | | really into racing, war games or strategic games. |
| This is a video game developed by Nintendo DS, | | | | includes a wide array of puzzle games, word games, |
| which has already spawned a sequel: Brain Age2. Both | | | | card games, board games, arcade and sports games |
| the original and the sequel video games are inspired | | | | that will keep you spending as much hours as your |
| by the work of Japanese neuroscientist Dr. Ryuta | | | | grand kid is spending on the Internet. |
| Kawashima. | | | | 9. Scrabble |
| Basically, what the Brain Age video game will assist | | | | Another classic game that will keep your brain razor |
| you with is stimulating your brain by giving it the | | | | sharp is scrabble. You can even go one step further |
| workout that it needs with activities like solving | | | | and use the fun game to connect with your friends |
| simple math problems, currency counting, drawing | | | | and family – no matter which part of the world |
| pictures or unscrambling letters. | | | | they live in. |
| As indicated in their website, the activities in the Brain | | | | You can have a game with two to four players, and |
| Age2 video game will increase the blood flow to your | | | | receive notifications on your e-mail if it is your turn to |
| prefrontal cortex. [Poor Blood Circulation] | | | | play. |
| 2. is actually a website which was started in 1997 by | | | | 10. Grandparent Games |
| Kevin Stone, BSC. The site has a great collection of | | | | To cap off our list, there’s the aptly named |
| logic game, brain teasers, riddles, puzzles, games and | | | | Grandparent Games which allows seniors to connect |
| optical illusions. | | | | with their grandchildren through interactive games. If |
| The good thing about BrainBashers is that five new | | | | you want to connect with your children’s kids |
| puzzles are added every other week, so you will | | | | while exercising your brain at the same time, you get |
| have some new brain-exerciser games to look | | | | free access to the service for 7 days. |
| forward to. [Brain Strengthening Exercises] | | | | There’s a minimal fee to continue, but if you like |
| The benefit of visiting sites like these is that your | | | | playing the games, it is definitely worth it. |
| mental acuity will be sharpened because of the sheer | | | | There you have it – our top 10 list of the best |
| number of activities that your brain can be engaged | | | | video games that will allow seniors to exercise their |
| in. | | | | brains, their bodies and improve their eye-hand |
| 3. Wii Golf | | | | coordination. Whoever said that video games are a |
| If, for one reason or another, you have decided to | | | | waste of time and are only meant for lazy kids and |
| quit playing golf – you can still have a go at it | | | | adults, can never be more wrong. |