It's hard to imagine residents in a nursing home being able to bowl and golf, with some competing in boxing matches. But they do at the Limestone Health Facility and have a ball doing it.

"Oh, I love it and I play to win," said resident LaRue Cannon. "Everybody wants to be a winner."

Cannon is one of dozens of nursing home residents who take part in the Wii System, which is a Nintendo type game that is used in occupational therapy.

In the Wii System, residents play games that include bowling, golf and boxing. They also play soccer, take part in ski jumping, tightrope walking and balance bubble to name a few.

"It's great fun," said Cannon, who has been a resident in the West Hobbs Street facility for two months. "When I first came here to take part in the games, I was a cheerleader at those games. I had to get them (residents) enthused about it. Now, when they bowl, they are slinging it. It's a lot of fun and good therapy."

"Bowling is a big hit here," she said. "The residents love to bowl. That is when we work on balance and coordination."

LHF Rehabilitation Director Laura Green said she's had no perfect 300 game bowled yet, but would not rule out it will come one day soon.

Green said some residents love to box on the system as well. She said some residents who take part in boxing have boxed for real in the past.

To play golf, box and bowl, residents use a controller and see the game being played on a big television screen.

"In golf, they hold the remote (club) in their hand and simulate their golf swing," Green said. "It shows it on the screen. There are great graphics and residents are able to keep score and compete. They have a ball doing it."

The games are played every Wednesday in the "Solarium" at the nursing home. Green said usually there are groups of eight, ten or more playing the games.

"We play the games by groups and they take part once a week. We only take our higher-level residents to Wii for rehab. When they are there, they get to work on balance, weight shifting, and endurance along with coordination and reaction time."

"When the games start, they cheer one another on," Green said. "We've been doing this several months and it's a big hit. They really enjoy it. The majority never have bowled before."

“The games last 39-45 minutes. While half the residents are playing the games, the others are exercising,” said Green.

April is Occupational Therapy Awareness Month, said Green.

"Occupational Therapy enables people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, prevent or live better with injury, illness or disability. It is a practice deeply rooted in science and is evidence-based, meaning that the plan designed for each individual is supported by data, experience, and "best practices" that have been developed and proven over time," she said. "Occupational therapy provides opportunity for folks to regain their independence and living a better quality of life."