The Wonderful World of Bingo!

For most of us, the game of bingo sounds like a run-of-the-mill pastime; many just find it very boring, and a place to go and spend an afternoon or evening with not much anticipation of winning. But, the world of bingo has become much more than that to millions of seniors.

More and more doctors and researchers are finding that bingo is not “just a game” for seniors. It all starts with keeping the seniors active. Having a place to go causes a stir and excitement for these seniors. Not only might they win, but they know they will get to see their regular group of friends there, which also means they have a reason to dress up a bit and get out of their room or apartment. Going one step further, it is also found that bingo keeps the mind alert and the memory active. Studying the numbers and patterns on the bingo cards is a stimulus of its own for seniors; but, moreover, some of the biggest advantages found thus far are wrapped in the idea of the game itself. By keeping the mind and spirit activated, seniors playing bingo are less stressed and less depressed. To get themselves ready to go out for the afternoon or evening promotes different areas of physical therapy and motor skill activity. When seniors stay active, they are also less likely to get lethargic, and they stay more limber overall, which is also very healthy.

Many assisted living facilities even encourage volunteers to come help residents get ready for their afternoon jaunt to the community hall. For those unable to dress themselves, or for those unable to walk by themselves, it is still found that the stimulus of gathering with friends and the eye, hand, and memory coordination is a very important part of keeping seniors healthy.