Nintendo Wii Catching Hospitals' Attention

The Nintendo Wii is in high demand... So popular it's hard to even find one on store shelves. ...  More »

The Nintendo Wii is in high demand... So popular it's hard to even find one on store shelves. But it's not just kids, and husbands who are hooked. It's catching the attention of local hospitals. Lauren Kalberer tells us why a Nintendo Wii may just be what the doctor ordered. Kids play it... (Nats) Big kids play it... (Nats) And now more and more therapy patients play it... (7:30) The idea behind this is not to make it too much like therapy. You wanna keep it fun. Elton Lassiter is a recreation therapist. His job is to get patients back to doing what they love to do. (4:16) It gives us some other options. It's another modality. It's a great way for us...we're in ND it's -5 today or this morning and I got little old ladies who don't want to get outside right now. Lassiter says it will help patients who love golf, to re-learn golf.... patients who used to be able to drive to re-learn how to drive... But for JP Moser a War Veteran who suffered a traumatic Brain injury.... (5:11) It's helping me immensely. Yes. Moser says there ARE Military hospitals with therapy units based around video games, and they're helping soldiers with all kinds injuries recover... (10:20) Down at Fort Carson is was in Warrior transition unite and they had just moved into some new barracks and they already had a gaming network set up in the building. There was a wing for the brain injury patients and for folks with lost limbs and they were all gamers. They were sitting there playing. It's amazing. For Moser, video games are literally just what the doctor ordered... (4:30) Actually I was pretty happy. It's fun. I get to sit at home and play games while everybody's working. No. that's a joke but, uhm it helps out alot. Moser says after returning from Iraq, his memory was so poor balancing a checkbook took hours. His wife had to take over that duty he used to do. He credits a Nintendo game called brain age with how far he's come. (6:27) Now, do to the fact I've done math and word games. It takes me an hour, with the help of that machine. It's amazing it does work. While the Wii, is proving good for the mind and good for patients with physical disabilities. The game is not at Saint Alexis yet. Although it is what the doctor ordered... (4:16) It's just a matter of finding one. I've gone around town. Boy, I tell you what, this is a tough place to get a Wii. Lassiter says there are downsides to using Wiihabilitation. He says it doesn't get you outside. And Moser says they do want patients to keep their use in check. They don't want you using videogames all day.  « Less