Seniors learn to bowl in a whole new way

Once a week in Cedar Rapids, an assisted living center for senior citizens transforms a quiet living room into a virtual bowling alley.

The 110 residents of Evergreen Estates can bowl because they have a video game system, the Nintendo Wii.

At this alley, a white wand-like controller with a trigger, a finger pad and a few buttons has replaced the heavy bowling ball of yesteryear. Activity coordinators and volunteers assist seniors as they strive to roll strikes.

The seniors have a definite passion for the game, which also provides exercise and socializing.

“This is the best thing to come around in a long time,” said Mary Ketchum, of Cedar Rapids, an 80-year-old mother of three and grandmother of six.

She's also the all-time high scorer at Evergreen Estates. A 232.

If someone doesn't believe it, they can look it in up in a worn blue loose leaf notebook next to the Wii where scores are tracked.

“If you get them to play it once, then they like it, but you get a lot of them that are old-fashioned. Play their bingo, do their trivia, stuff like that,” said Marian Franke, an activity coordinator at Evergreen Estates I, 3410 12th Avenue SW.

She's works with residents to develop their own throwing styles.

The game system is plugged into a television set and projects a simulated bowling alley onto the screen. Players can then pick figures to carry out their rolling motion. Then the players wind their arms and scoot their hips to strategize.

On a typical Tuesday - this one after a lunch of salmon patties and creamed peas - about 20 residents gather for two hours to create a stadium-like atmosphere.

“What it does is fill the time for us. Yeah, it's something to look forward to that you can do. And I think it's exercise, too, because you get up and you move. You know, a lot of people just sit around,” said Ketchum, who said she used to bowl at Tropics in downtown Cedar Rapids.

“Especially with the Wii, fitness allows for increased socialization and it allows for multi-generational programming or activities,” said Jill Gleason, an activities coordinator with Heritage Area Agency on Aging, one of the state's 13 agencies designed to meet elderly needs.

There are more than 30,000 people over the age of 60 in Linn County and improving balance and overall physical health is important for their healthy aging, she said.

Evergreen Estates II, 307 Edgewood Road SW, also bought a Wii system in March 2009, but with a donation of two more units from the service organizations Quota International, bowling has steadily grown in popularity at all three southwest side residences.

The local Quotarians have spent about $700 on two systems and a few games for them.

“I think sometimes they're forgotten,” said Ramona Balydyga, 53, Quota's local president.

One of the virtual bowlers, Judy Barvinek, 70, has developed her own throwing style.

“I'm a lefthander, so I try to get the headpin and the pin next to it. That usually gets me a strike,” she said.

After Barvinek rolled a 145, she was distraught by her performance in front of the crowd.

“It was different than when you're just with your own little group,” she said.

But despite her disappointment, she was cheered on by the group.

Splitting pins has been the most challenging part of the game for residents.

"You'd rather have a strike than a split,” said Ketchum, who sat with her hand on her walker after her most recent score dipped significantly from her high.

As the session wore on and another meal drew closer. Franke continued to help her residents roll, even if they struggled to grasp their controllers. “Like I said, even the pros have their off days.”