Tyler Reis-Sanford
Suzanne Maye sits low in her armchair, her eyes watching patiently as another round of cards gets dealt out. At 78, Maye says herself that she’s “no spring chicken,” and when it comes to a round of Hearts, she most certainly isn’t.
She’s a card shark.
Riverpath Retirement Community is an assisted living facility in the east end of Ottawa. It houses thousands of seniors across 10 communities in the Ottawa region and offers a variety of services to fit the needs of its tenants. Whether it’s wine and cheese night, Latin chair dancing, Valentine’s day parties or field trips to local museums, tenants have the opportunity to make the most of their days. Maye is one of those ten ants and has lived at Riverpath for 16 months.
“I think it’s pretty nice here, we have everything we need,” said Maye. “The nurses are helpful, and [the] people are pretty nice. There’s lots to do”.
Riverstone boasts many different care options, from independent and semi-independent care to physically and mentally assisted living. The retirement community also lists recreational activities; including fitness, social activities, crafts, games and planned outings on its website. Although it’s listed along with the other perks of Riverstone, Maye said it’s the games she prefers.
“It’s a lot easier than going somewhere, when I’m sore and tired I don’t want to go anywhere,” said Maye. “So, we sit and play cards or play a board game maybe.”
Maye said they usually play Hearts, Euchre or Cribbage to pass the time. Sometimes they play for quarters, sometimes they play for nickels or dimes, but Maye said they always play for bragging rights. When asked who typically wins, she smiled.
“Euchre and Cribbage we all win,” said Maye. “But Hearts? Usually me.”
Roberto Carron, another tenant at Riverpath and game night attendee, has a different idea.
“I win just as much as Sue,” said Carron with a smile. “But maybe she just forgets.”
Despite what Carron might say, playing card games has shown to increase memory and mental capacity in seniors. According to a study done by The Journals of Gerontology, people who played games on a regular basis were significantly less likely to suffer from cognitive decline than their peers who didn’t play games. Riverpath plans daily activities for tenants to take part in.
Staff at Riverpath also cite game nights as an opportunity for tenants to “stay young,” by relieving stress, increasing brain function and providing structure and community for seniors who may feel isolated.
“A retirement community shouldn’t be a sad place,” said Amanda Reyes, a nurse at Riverpath. “There are some tenants who don’t get visitors, it can be lonely. By getting people up and moving, or at least playing, it brings everyone together.”
Although Maye and Carron can’t seem to agree on who wins more of their card games, they both agree on one thing; that playing keeps them young.
