Wellfleet Council on Aging receives Wii donation from local attorney

"Wiihab" affective in rehabilitating injured seniors and other

Law Offices of Bruce A. Bierhans, LLC donate Wii to Wellfleet COA

Local seniors are now getting the chance to smile when they heal, thanks to a nationwide association of trial attorneys. The first three Mondays in August, 53 law firms from 25 states banded together to donate more than 60 Nintendo Wii gaming systems to rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, hospitals and councils on aging all over America. The firms are all members of a consumer safety community called InjuryBoard.

With more than half its membership participating, InjuryBoard hopes the event will
inspire attorneys everywhere to give back to their communities. This giveaway is sponsored by the non-profit division of InjuryBoard, the InjuryBoard Foundation, whose purpose is to help individuals and communities live safer, happier and healthier lives through increased awareness and community outreach.

Wii Instruction with Melissa begins on Thursday, September 10 and continues on Thursday mornings from 8:30am-10am through the month of October.  The Wellfleet COA is looking forward to a Winter of Wii featuring golf, bowling, tennis, baseball and boxing (with more games coming). All games are great for mobility and hand-eye coordination, not to mention socialization. It's not just for rehab!

The Wii was selected because of a recent trend in rehabilitation toward a new technique known as “Wiihab.” Wiihab makes use of the gaming system’s unique, live motion play to offer patients a fun and less painful exercise medium. The InjuryBoard firms, all of whom represent victims of serious accidents, hope that their donations will ease the recovery of those in need and will help patients find enjoyment in an otherwise painful and difficult process.

Locally, the Law Offices of Bruce A. Bierhans, LLC have donated a Wii system to the Wellfleet Council on Aging.  COA Director Suzanne Grout Thomas said she, the Board members & staff are very excited to be the recipients of this donation, as they have been eager to obtain a Wii, but thus far have not been able to incorporate one into their budget.

The COA will begin integrating the gaming system into their clients’ wellness programs to assist with individual rehabilitative needs through dance and interactive fitness games.

There will be a schedule of times the system will be available, as well as supervised instruction for all levels. Wellfleet will be the only Council on Aging center on the Lower and Outer Cape to offer a Wii system as part of their services.

Bierhans, who lives in Wellfleet, said, “I’m thrilled to be able to contribute to the Council’s great work.  Maybe I’ll go up there and use it myself.”

The Wellfleet Council on Aging is located at 715 Old King's Highway in Wellfleet. 508-349-2800.

Release courtesy of the Wellfleet Council on Aging.