ou may enjoy playing motion-sensing games but you may not be aware that they are also getting popular among the elderly. The Geriatric Day Hospital of Fung Yiu King Hospital (FYKH) has installed the game consoles Wii for senior patients since the summer of 2010. With the support from student volunteers, seniors in the hospital can play the games during lunch hour.

"Apart from doing physiotherapy and occupational therapy, we would like to encourage seniors to exercise and have fun at the same time," said Dr Felix Chan, Chief of Service (Medicine) at FYKH. "Motion-sensing games are simple but full of fun. Playing games can help the elderly stay active and healthy." Feedback from the participating elderly is very positive. The hospital is planning to purchase more television sets and game consoles in order to expand this service. However, Dr Chan reminded that people suffering from high blood pressure and cardiac ailments are not suitable to play this type of game.

etter awareness of the symptoms of stroke may help boost the chance for recovery. In a bid to enhance the public's knowledge of stroke warning signs and actions to take, Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) has initiated in August a community education programme. The programme also complements the hospital's 24-hour acute stroke thrombolysis service scheduled to be launched in early 2012.

The programme includes exhibitions and health talks. PWH also provides blood tests for collaborative partners. With the staunch support of the hospital's doctors and nurses from the family medicine department and its volunteer team, more than 500 people have benefited from this initiative. The hospital is planning to extend its community service to elderly homes, shopping malls and large corporations.