Senior Olympics might be a fairly common occurrence at nursing homes across the country. But what makes one Illinois skilled nursing provider’s own offering standout is the long list of odd events offered.
Friendship Village of Schaumburg in Illinois hosted its 11th Annual Silver Games in mid-September, with 25 different events for participants, ages 62 and up. It included everything from water volleyball to a free throw contest, one-mile relay, archery, Sudoku and fishing, with 177 residents taking part.
Participants also had the chance to improve their health and functional movement while having fun in a new obstacle course, notes Julie Hubbard, exercise physiologist at Friendship Village. Challenges included picking up cereal pieces with chopsticks to bolster hand-eye coordination, addressing balance with hopscotch, and blowing a cup across a string to improve pulmonary health.
The Silver Games were hosted in partnership with the Schaumburg Park District, and the village’s Barn Senior Program. Friendship Village is a continuing care retirement community, and officials said it developed activities for residents at all ability and activity levels.
