Everyone’s a winner!

AS Australia’s best athletes compete against the rest of the world in Paris, residents at Heathcote Health Aged Care are enjoying their own special games.

Activities assistant Karra King has devised a program of modified Olympic Games-themed activities so all the residents can join the fun.

“Some of the residents can get quite competitive,” said Ms King. “All in good fun, of course.

“While the Olympic Games are on, we’ll be doing our own activities based on the Olympic events but modified to suit residents whether they are standing or in wheelchairs.

“All the activities are good for physical and mental stimulation. We’ll have balloon tennis, ping pong, lawn bowls, clay shooting and footballs through a target.”

Ms King has even devised a special swimming event.

“We have plastic bottles with string wound around them and a plastic duck tied to the end of the string,” she said.

“The string is undone, and residents turn the bottles to rewind it. The winner is the first to get their duck back to the bottle.

“Our last event will be a trivia quiz designed to keep brain cells active.”

Resident Georgina Joynson has been watching the swimming events at the Olympic Games.

“I turned 94 recently,” she said. “I don’t swim anymore, but I enjoy watching it.”

Wendy Carlier likes the track and field events.

“Especially the long and high jumping,” she said. “And gymnastics. I love watching the gymnastics. I enjoy watching all the games.”