Implementing Active Gaming for Senior Citizens at Your Health Club
Senior Games: Seniors have been playing virtual fitness games at retirement communities for years. Will health clubs join them in the game?
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Comparison of Wii vs. Active Gaming
| Wii | Active Gaming Equipment | |
|---|---|---|
| Space Needs | The user must be able to stand several feet away from the TV screen, move in all directions and extend his or her arms using the handheld accessories. | While some clubs are devoting entire facilities to active gaming, the concept is most successful when it's an ancillary service and is placed within its own separate room within a health club. |
| Cost | About $300 for the system, and $1,000 or more for a big-screen TV. | The average cost of most active gaming machines is about the same as a piece of high-end selectorized equipment — between $2,500 and $3,500. Club owners also have to invest in a separate TV for most pieces of equipment. |
| Ease of Use for Seniors | The Wii uses a wand, which seniors use to play the game. If they're unfamiliar with computers and gaming technology, they may experience a learning curve, but they can catch on quickly, club owners say. One vendor is even working on niche-specific products for seniors that don't require the use of wands, but rather body movements. | While some active gaming technology may be too fast or complicated for seniors, other machines transform existing cardio equipment into virtual gaming machines. For example, users may pedal a recumbent bike to propel their movements on the screen. |
How to Integrate Active Gaming into a Club
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Give games a test run. Colin Milner of the International Council on Active Aging advises operators to take a group of older adults to a store and let them try out a few gaming systems to find one that they enjoy.
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Buy a big-screen TV. Keep in mind that as seniors age, their vision will decline.
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Encourage multi-generational leagues. Allow seniors and teenagers to join a Wii bowling or tennis league without segregating the teams based on age.
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Create a separate room or area for active gaming. If possible, try to find an area where at least eight of your members can gather around the TV, or be in a room filled with other active gaming equipment.
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Offer training classes. To make members feel more comfortable during the initial learning phase, offer classes on how to set up and play Wii, and how to use the active gaming equipment.
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