# My 83-yr-old mother wants a Wii for Xmas **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 1, 2008, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-83-yr-old-mother-wants-a-wii-for-xmas/475123 "2008-12-01T02:10:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![katie1341](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/91b2a8/32.png) [@katie1341](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katie1341)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2008, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-83-yr-old-mother-wants-a-wii-for-xmas/475123/1 "2008-12-01T02:10:25Z")
She went to visit one of my sisters a couple of weeks ago, and played with her Wii. She said that she hasn’t been able to play tennis for 20 years, and she can do it and other stuff, like bowl, with the Wii. So, the sibs and I getting her a Wii. I am thrilled that she can play tennis again. She loved it when she was :eek: my age :eek:. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2008, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-83-yr-old-mother-wants-a-wii-for-xmas/475123/2 "2008-12-01T02:22:51Z")
My 75 year old MIL loved our Wii. She was delighted to be able to bowl & golf again, despite bad knees and arthritic hands. ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2008, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-83-yr-old-mother-wants-a-wii-for-xmas/475123/3 "2008-12-01T02:41:55Z")
I had my mom and grandma bowling on our Wii on Thanksgiving. My grandmother wants one now too. She’s 81 btw. ---
**Author:** ![firstname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7ab992/32.png) [@firstname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/firstname)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2008, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-83-yr-old-mother-wants-a-wii-for-xmas/475123/4 "2008-12-01T02:46:53Z")
Grandparents: A previously untapped market for the gaming industry. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Woodhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@Miss\_Woodhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Woodhouse)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2008, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-83-yr-old-mother-wants-a-wii-for-xmas/475123/5 "2008-12-01T02:52:59Z")
Wiis are turning up in nursing homes as well. They are purchased for the activities departments. Just the thought of a bowling tournament with the cute little grandmas in their wheelchairs and lap quilts makes me smile. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Skylark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Skylark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skylark)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2008, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-83-yr-old-mother-wants-a-wii-for-xmas/475123/6 "2008-12-01T02:56:01Z")
How safe are they for geezers? I take it Wii gives lots of realistic-ish simulation but almost none of the muscle stress, is that right? Is there a Wii duck pond? Kidding aside, that actually sound like a fantastic gift idea to get my own grandparents for Christmas. They are both in their 80s with their own share of health ailments (“Growing old is not for sissies!” as my grandpa would say) and miss not being able to play golf anymore. Thank you for bringing the idea up **katie**. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Woodhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@Miss\_Woodhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Woodhouse)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2008, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-83-yr-old-mother-wants-a-wii-for-xmas/475123/7 "2008-12-01T03:04:58Z")
**Skylark** , Wiis are safe enough that they are being used in Rehab departments in the nursing homes as well. They make great occupational therapy tools. Add in the balance board and they are great for physical therapy as well. Although, I imagine it’s possible to get tennis elbow with a Wii. Repetative stress injuries happen anytime you over do anything. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2008, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-83-yr-old-mother-wants-a-wii-for-xmas/475123/8 "2008-12-01T03:22:27Z")
And my husband racked up his shoulder trying to get his Wii fastball up over 96 mph… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Waffle\_Decider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/77aa72/32.png) [@Waffle\_Decider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waffle_Decider)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2008, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-83-yr-old-mother-wants-a-wii-for-xmas/475123/9 "2008-12-01T03:33:50Z")
Allegedly, [Her Majesty](http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_headline=make-way-for-the-q-wii-n&method=full&objectid=20276099&siteid=93463-name_page.html) enjoys it too. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2008, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-83-yr-old-mother-wants-a-wii-for-xmas/475123/10 "2008-12-01T03:35:40Z")
My mom wants one as well. I pulled a muscle Wii bowling, so they aren’t innocent! ---
**Author:** ![Susie\_Derkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Susie\_Derkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susie_Derkins)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2008, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-83-yr-old-mother-wants-a-wii-for-xmas/475123/11 "2008-12-01T03:36:03Z")
I’m a massage therapist and had a client a few months ago who had played so much Wii bowling she’d strained a muscle in her lower back. She was nearly 70. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2008, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-83-yr-old-mother-wants-a-wii-for-xmas/475123/12 "2008-12-01T04:42:13Z")
My 60 year old Mom is getting one for Christmas. I never thought I’d see the day. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2008, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-83-yr-old-mother-wants-a-wii-for-xmas/475123/13 "2008-12-01T04:43:08Z")
I hope I still feel like playing with my Wii when I’m their age. Yes, I know this pun has been driven into the molten magma beneath Earth’s crust by now. No, I don’t care. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2008, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-83-yr-old-mother-wants-a-wii-for-xmas/475123/14 "2008-12-01T04:52:31Z")
> [@Susie\_Derkins](#): > > I’m a massage therapist and had a client a few months ago who had played so much Wii bowling she’d strained a muscle in her lower back. She was nearly 70. Mine was in my forearm, but I don’t have the excuse of being 70. I’m just a wimp with wimpy forearms. ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2008, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-83-yr-old-mother-wants-a-wii-for-xmas/475123/15 "2008-12-01T05:26:59Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Mine was in my forearm, but I don’t have the excuse of being 70. I’m just a wimp with wimpy forearms. Me too. Well not wimpy forearms, more like out of shape forearms :o ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2008, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-83-yr-old-mother-wants-a-wii-for-xmas/475123/16 "2008-12-01T06:05:06Z")
Not only has it proven to be great physical therapy for older people, there is some evidence that keeping the mind active with games like this might actually slow symptoms of Alzheimers! I think it is a great idea! ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2008, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-83-yr-old-mother-wants-a-wii-for-xmas/475123/17 "2008-12-01T15:19:06Z")
> [@Miss\_Woodhouse](#): > > Wiis are turning up in nursing homes as well. They are purchased for the activities departments. Just the thought of a bowling tournament with the cute little grandmas in their wheelchairs and lap quilts makes me smile. 🙂 I’m in and out of nursing homes all day as part of my job, and I’ve seen Wiis at most of them, in the common room. Yes, it is indeed cute to see residents in wheelchairs playing golf or tennis. Go Granny! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hi\_Neighbor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hi_neighbor/32/494_2.png) [@Hi\_Neighbor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hi_Neighbor)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-83-yr-old-mother-wants-a-wii-for-xmas/475123/18 "2008-12-01T15:20:22Z")
That is adorable! My mother is in her sixties but thinks video games are the devil ☹ ---
**Author:** ![hellpaso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@hellpaso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hellpaso)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2008, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-83-yr-old-mother-wants-a-wii-for-xmas/475123/19 "2008-12-01T16:52:15Z")
We love ours so much, we got one for my husband’s parents, who are in their mid-70s, They love it, too! ---
**Author:** ![UncaStuart](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncastuart/32/404_2.png) [@UncaStuart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncaStuart)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2008, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-83-yr-old-mother-wants-a-wii-for-xmas/475123/20 "2008-12-01T17:15:37Z")
> [@Hockey\_Monkey](#): > > My 60 year old Mom is getting one for Christmas. I never thought I’d see the day. It’s always fun to take on the grandkids. My 63-year-old right-handed wife just schooled a few of them this holiday by bowling a 300, left-handed. Hee. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-83-yr-old-mother-wants-a-wii-for-xmas/475123.md?page=2)