It's 'game on' for young and old

Sport is not just for the young and active.

The elderly residents of nursing homes across the South West will pit their agility, sporting prowess and fighting spirits against each other in this week’s Live Lighter Aged Care Games.

Sixteen teams will compete at the South West Sports Centre on Thursday, with teams travelling from as far as Manjimup.

Competing in low-impact competitions, such as chair hockey, skittles, beanbag tossing and ball passing, the winners will take the trophy from last year’s champions who hailed from Donnybrook and Balingup.

An award also goes to the team with the best uniforms and the best hats.

The team from Regis Forrest Gardens won the competition for the best hat at last year’s event and are taking their winning hats along again, hoping to repeat the performance.

Dot Hastie, who is on the team this year, said the games were rough but friendly.

“You’ve got to be ready to fight when you get out there, ” she said.

A race between staff from the nursing homes closes the day.

Jenny Harvey, a staff member at Regis Forrest Gardens said the staff race was always a highlight of the games.

“The residents really enjoy the staff race – they think it’s a good laugh, ” she said.