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Show 48 Lakeside Review South, Wednesday, August 15, 1984 ir "V 'V ' V" v' . ' " i ' ' ' ) X CX&XI I L 1L ? rt ' & ? in - t I If fVVf . I V n! 7a V ; yd' J j:V r-- A Wu, ' '''v r ' 'v . 'A : 0m ? JfrT X J2' 'tif ''"" -- ' - " "' 'f 'i t jna . 1 - A: ' Ife' H ,' ; r 'Smk.'Ll iff f Wb& i a ' ' y ,J?Mf y' f tty, , v , VjjT BLANCHE EWALD i t ' plays an intense game of checkers. i: r ", ll 4 I WHEELCHAIR ctivity is ageless was the theme for the first annual Olympiatrics at the Bountiful Convalescent Care Center in Bountiful. And active people they were last Saturday when geriatric patients from nursing homes in Salt Lake, Davis, and Weber Counties met to go for the gold. Becky Swihart, recreation therapist at the Bountiful center, is a believer in athletics for all ages. Since patients at the Bountiful center already play volleyball, swim, bowl, and do all sorts of movement therapy, Ms. Swihart felt it would be appropriate to give the elderly some other motivation to stay active. Martha Ham, consultant for the home, agreed that the elderly are often overlooked. Handicapped have special Olympics. So an Olympiatrics seemed to be the answer. Complete with opening ceremonies, a parade of flags and an Olympiatrics Torch, Olympiatrics awarded gold, bronze and silver medals in nine different categories. Ten athletes made up volleyball teams for the game played sitting down with a huge light beach ball. Checkers was a popular sport and enthusiasm was high for the wheelchair races. Dee Roberts, entrant in two events, the wheelchair race and volleyball, said the sports event was very exciting. Other events were a basketball shoot, horseshoes, shot put, bowling, darts and walker races. Participants could enter as many sports as they wished. 1 1 Awards were also given to participants of a walk for life that started June 1. Those who signed up to walk each day, kept a records and were given awards for their accumulated distance. Ninety geriatric patients between 55 and 90 years old entered competitions. About 50 vol- unteers from the community pushed wheelchairs and helped organize the games. Kelly Gill, administrator of the Bountiful center said the biggest fear in holding the event was not having enough manpower to get people around. But the response to a call for volunteers through the media was great. He was also surprised to see so many of the patients wanted to participate. Ms. Swihart hopes to eventually see the event go Every nursing home in the three county area was sent an invitation to this years Olympiatrics. Out of all the people we invited, it could have been bigger, she said. Next year well shoot big. state-wid- was Dee Roberts sport but he shows dissapointment RACING for his race. $6 i ? ' A , W'&Ay '9 I 1- . , s,VfS - c- - ,, Cindy Stevenson, office manager at the Bountiful Center, was in charge of the checkers competition. The Olypiatrics event was a real undertaking, she said. When you get this many geriatric patients together with diabetes and other problems, its just gone so good. Its so neat when youve worked so hard. About the only problems were with some elderly patients who got tired, but there were extra beds available so that they could go lie down, Ms. Stevenson said. A:& T' f Ml & ,r (r A 4 ' ' e. fk 'C W' ' ' - y'f II IV . I yfM. ' ".y.. s, v J j , t id Lams WANDA GILES has a mean follow through from her bowling roll. There was more than just wheelchair races at the Bountiful Convalescent Care , , a ' J Center. V ,4 v Photos by Robert Regan VOLLEYBALL x JS1 Story by Cheryl Archibald TENDER Youre r TOUCHING OK with me. says that with played a beach ball (left) brought a bronze medal to the Bountiful team thal included players Hulda Squires, Richard Stites, and Nelma Hall. Mrs. Hall, (above) lets out a shriek ol delight upon scoring a point. 4 sit-do- |