We have often discussed the fact that a regular game of bingo keeps the elderly fit, both physically and mentally, and although this is not a UK story, it certainly bears mentioning in this regard. 107 year old Sarah de Florio who is a resident at Caldwell Skilled Nursing Centre in the US, still plays bingo every Thursday night.

She was born on 6 May 1901 and has seen both World War I and World War II. She has always remained active and was babysitting well into her nineties and cooking until she was 100 years old. She says that her father told her that she should always be doing something; he would say “God put you here to help people and do something, not to just sit around and breathe in the fresh air”.  The sinking of the Titanic has a huge effect on her and recently she watched the move from start to finish and couldn’t sleep all night, she remembered the day that it happened and how awful it all was. She also remembers when a large tank of molasses exploded and flooded North End in 1919, killing and injuring people.

I guess it goes to show that playing bingo certainly does help the mental agility of the elderly, in this instance that is for certain!

Tags: bingo games, playing bingo