Janet Rice, a resident of Hilltop Center, takes a turn during the spelling competition at the Sunshine Olympics held April 20 at Riverview Manor in Owego, N.Y. (Photos by JoAnn R. Walter)
On the left, Pat White, of Riverview Manor, competes in a checkers game during the Sunshine Olympics held April 20. Six health care facilities within the southern tier traveled to Owego for the inaugural leg of the annual Olympics.
A participant in the checkers competition during the Sunshine Olympics held April 20 at Riverview Manor in Owego, N.Y. takes his time before making a strategic decision on the game board.
The spelling competition, one of several games played during the annual Sunshine Olympics throughout the southern tier, was held April 20 at Riverview Manor in Owego, N.Y.
Residents from six health care facilities gathered together on April 20 at Riverview Manor in Owego for the first leg of the Sunshine Olympics. The Sunshine Olympics, an annual event going strong for over 30 years, brings residents together from as many as nine local health care facilities to participate in multiple events at different locations.
The Sunshine Olympics events at Riverview Manor featured a spelling contest and checkers tournament. Six southern tier health care facilities including Willow Point, Castle Gardens, Good Shephard-Fairview, Hilltop and Riverview Manor, as well as Susquehanna, gathered together both nursing home residents and assisted living residents to participate in the events. Throughout the summer, residents will be bussed to the various locations and have the opportunity to play the Sunshine Olympics versions of volleyball, bowling, frisbie toss and horseshoes. Two events, team trivia and the cookie competition, are favored events some participants said they look forward to most.
“It’s a positive social experience for the residents, a chance for them to meet new people and encourage each other,” commented Riverview Manor activities director, Debbie Savich.
Savich added, “The events involve participants in physical and mental activities, both on a team and as an individual, and allows them to interact and feel good about their strengths and skills.”
During the spelling competition, participants were eliminated if they spelled a word incorrectly the first time, so players thought twice before repeating a word back and then spelling it. One participant joked that she better know how to spell certain words since she had worked as a legal assistant in a law office back in the day.
Hilltop resident, Janet Rice, shared, “My history is that I won the spelling competition one year,” and chuckled as she revealed, “Then another year I missed on the first word.”
A few participants who played checkers were quite serious before deciding the best strategic move on the checkerboard.
Riverview Manor resident, Pat White, commented, “I haven’t played checkers in over forty years, so I’m not sure how I’ll do.”
Joanne Dimon, seated, takes a turn during the spelling competition at the Sunshine Olympics held April 20 at Riverview Manor in Owego, N.Y.
Volunteers from the Rotary Club of Owego hosted the event and assisted volunteer coaches and Riverview Manor personnel to ensure game rules were followed, and also helped hand out medals to first, second and third place winners. Participation ribbons were given to all other competitors.
Janet Rice happily shared, “I still have my medal from the year I won the spelling; I have it hanging up.”
