Play is the thing with Wii – Video Included

Marlboro teenagers bring fun and companionship to assisted living facility

BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer

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Play is the thing with Wii
Residents of the Monmouth Crossing assisted living facility on Iron Bridge Road spent time recently with members of the Marlboro Teen Advisory Committee

PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff Anna Prestifilippo tries her hand at a Nintendo Wii game during a special program held at the Monmouth Crossing assisted living facility on March 7. Below, Larry Abraham follows the video action on the TV screen.

TAC) playing bowling, baseball, boxing and even taking a spin on a go-cart, all without leaving the comfort of their chairs.

On March 7 the Marlboro TAC members began their monthly visits to Monmouth Crossing, where members spent an hour of the afternoon engaging the residents in games on the Nintendo Wii.

The Nintendo Wii is a video game system that has participants using handheld remotes to take part in games. The TAC members focused on the game Wii Sports, which allows players to hit a home run while seated.

The TAC was the recipient of a Nintendo Wii donated by the Marlboro Police Explorers.

Marlboro police Capt. Doug Van Note said when the members of the Police Explorers post learned about the TAC’s latest project, they wanted to help out. Van Note said the Police Explorers raised the money and then purchased the Nintendo Wii.

 

Van Note said he was proud of the Police Explorers for helping out in such a worthy venture. The captain said the TAC’s program is a great way for the members of both generations to learn from one another.

Since Monmouth Crossing recently purchased a Nintendo Wii of its own, two stations were set up so everyone would have a chance to play on March 7.

It was a give-and-take of learning as TAC members Jake Bouer, 15, Aaron Rosen, 15, Cosmo Giancaspro, 15, Katie Kuzmich, 15, and member-in-training Caroline Loeb, 11, spent time with the Monmouth Crossing residents.

As the teenagers taught the seniors how to use the video game, the seniors talked to the teenagers about the past. Resident Irving Goldfarb requested some time playing baseball after regaling the teens with stories of his son’s days playing ball, Aaron said. Mary Ellen Burns, the facility’s activity director, said when Marlboro TAC adviser Gordon Loeb approached her with the idea to have the teens come in and play, she thought it was a great idea.

The program has a long list of benefits for the seniors and the TAC members, including social aspects between the generations and handeye coordination, Burns described.

"The idea that the kids are relating to the residents … is just so important," said Heleyne Gladstein, the facility’s administrator.

Burns and Gladstein both said there was a showing of mutual respect between the generations during the visit.

Gladstein said the Nintendo Wii allows the residents of the assisted living facility to experience new technologies.

It was evident from watching the residents of Monmouth Crossing that they were having a blast playing with the teenagers.

Resident Doris Silverstein loved playing the Wii and said she hoped her grandchildren had one so she might play with them. Silverstein’s favorite Wii game was bowling, a sport she was not always a fan of.

"I never bowled much, but I love doing it on here," she said.

Silverstein was interested in what other types of games the Wii offered and could not wait to play those. She is looking forward to the next TAC visit with the "wonderful" members.

What started out as a small group of seniors interacting with the teenagers consistently grew as other residents passed by the facility’s common area and heard the excitement as everyone rooted for their friends.

Silverstein stopped those who were passing by and encouraged them to play. Visitors coming to see their loved ones would also peek in to see what the commotion was about and could be heard commenting on how great the program was.

Marlboro Deputy Mayor Larry Rosen, also an adviser of the TAC, said these types of programs are a great way for teenagers to give something back to the community.

The TAC members also work with Marlboro seniors with computer and cell phone training. A time is arranged and two TAC members will visit a resident’s home to teach him or her how to use email, surf the Internet and how to work a cell phone.

Adviser Natalie Loeb said the group has completed more than 70 training programs.

The teenagers from Marlboro said they were having a great time at Monmouth Crossing and especially loved how much the residents were enjoying the video games.

Aaron said the Wii is a great systemto use, since everyone could participate without exerting a lot of energy.

Cosmo said it was great to sit and talk with the Monmouth Crossing residents about a variety of topics.

The Marlboro teenagers are scheduled to return to Monmouth Crossing and play some more on April 4. Additional opportunities at different assisted living facilities are expected to be added in the future, the TAC advisers said.

Contact Rebecca Morton at [email protected].