Nintendo Wii for Seniors: Is the Video Game Console a Good Gift for Grandparents?

The Nintendo Wii game console might seem like an unusual gift idea for senior citizens and retirees, but it may just extend their lives. With an innovative motion-sensing remote and simple graphical interface, videogames for the Wii are so simple and intuitive that grandparents can play with their grandkids. As the holiday shopping season approaches, it's tempting to give a present that all generations can share. But is the Nintendo Wii actually a good gift for grandparents?

Certainly, Nintendo thinks so. Earlier this year, the Chicago Tribune reported that Nintendo has become a sensation in retirement homes, and in a move that has surprised gamers and industry insiders, Nintendo marketed its game console directly to the AARP.

The surprise hit? Bowling.

Wii Sports have made virtual bowling tournaments possible in retirement communities and have induced the elderly to get up out of their chairs with a little physical competition. With the Wii's emphasis on gentle motions, balance, and coordination, the game system disguises mild physical activity under a heap of outlandish fun. Seniors can get all the enjoyment of a real bowling game without having to worry about throwing out their back while hauling around a heavy ball. Grandma and Grandpa can even play couples tennis without having to rent a court or risking a fall.

Even though some games, like Wii Sports Boxing, can raise the heart rate, they won't provide an intense workout. But the elderly don't need a punishing exercise regimen to see the health benefits. Doctors say that regular mild activity can protect the body as it ages and extend the lives of our grandparents by strengthening bones and loosening joints. Mild exercise is even thought to decrease cellular aging in the brain. A half-hour's worth of Wii Golf after dinner might be just what the doctor ordered.

In addition to giving seniors the gift of health, the Nintendo Wii might be a great present for grandparents for social reasons. Seniors often lament the loss of social activities they used to enjoy, because of mobility issues and expenses they can no longer afford.

While video game systems like the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 enthrall gamers with their excellent video graphics and high tech gadgetry, the Wii encourages socialization. This element of human warmth and interaction is vital to the long-term health and happiness of your grandparents, and may well be why the Wii has done something that video game systems haven't done in years-found a new audience.

A full year after making its market debut, the Wii still sells out wherever it becomes available, and can command up to double its retail price on Ebay. Nintendo plans to extend its offerings in the first quarter of 2008 with their upcoming "Wii Fit" games, which will add a foot pad to the mix. The new accessory will allow gamers to ski, hula-hoop, and juggle their way to better fitness.

In light of its promise, the Wii may just be the best gift idea you've had for your grandparents in years-and it's certainly a present they wouldn't think to get for themselves.