Golden Games attracts 120 nursing care facility residents

Walking to the tune of bagpipes, chicken squawks and cheers from onlookers, the parade participants from Southeast Missouri nursing care facilities marched one-by-one into the Osage Community Centre.

Some were dressed as knights and princes while others sported the clothing of queens and fairy princesses.

As they made their grand entrance, singing, laughter and smiles reinforced a common theme throughout three hours of Olympics-style competition. While only a few participants could earn a trophy at these Golden Games, everyone seemed to be a winner through a day of fellowship and recreation away from their respective nursing home facility.

Though mostly in their 70s, 80s and 90s, these senior citizens proved that age is no barrier.

About 120 residents from 12 nursing homes representing Missouri Healthcare Association District 5 each took part in Medieval themed games. They included putting a ball a few feet from a hole in Gargoyle Golf, fishing at Monsters in the Moat, tossing coins into Windsor Well, successfully hitting a target with a bow and arrow at Robin Hood's Revenge and cheering on a battery-powered swine in Slop the Swine.

Anna Strubee, a resident of Ste. Genevieve Care Center, said the Golden Games was one of the highlights of her year. Dressed in a purple dress and wearing a gold crown, Strubee was hoping to repeat her 2007 Golden Games performance, when she placed second in the fishing competition and her nursing home facility won first place for their entry into the parade.

"I'm so thrilled to get outside and enjoy this entire day of fun," Strubee said. "At our age, we don't get to do that very much."

Southeast Missouri Area Agency on Aging volunteer ombudsman Bill Blaylock said the event bucks the stereotype that nursing home residents are mostly inactive.

"These residents know there is more to life than just sitting around," said Blaylock as he watched the parade with his wife and fellow volunteer Peggy. "They enjoy planning what they'll wear during the day as much as the competition itself. For the nursing home residents, this gives them another view of life."

Look for more information later in the day at semissourian.com and a full article in Saturday's Southeast Missourian.