Social distancing is proving not to be so hard for one nursing home in Australia, after images started circulating online of residents playing ‘no contact’ bingo games. Elderly residents were seen playing bingo amid the Coronavirus pandemic which has lifted he spirits of millions across the globe.
The heart-warming photo shows residents playing bingo in a hallway without the risk of contracting the potentially deadly virus. Spaced more than 2m apart, a table with counters and bingo cards were placed in the doorway of each occupant, along with a chair for comfort.
As the bingo numbers were called a woman paced up and down to ensure the players were marking their numbers off correctly, again, taking care when approaching each table.
Balcony Bingo
Over to Spain now and residents of one street in Madrid recently decided to create their own version of online bingo – balcony bingo. Every evening, residents take to their balconies at 6:30pm and listen out for the calls. Naturally, before each game commences, they decide on a designated caller.
Christina Pruenza, a graduate student came up with the idea with her husband as a way of bringing the community together whilst staying apart. “It helps us stay entertained at night.It is so satisfying to see all our neighbours having fun together. These little moments where we are all helping one another is what really makes me happy,” Pruenza explained to CN Traveler.
She revealed that she puts bingo cards in the building’s elevator for residents to take with them for the nightly sessions. “It brings us all together to laugh, and to be happy. And it creates an incredible feeling of solidarity.”
It’s not about winning, it’s about taking part and whoever wins the last game, gets to choose the music for the next session – that’s their prize, along with bragging rights. The world discovered ‘balcony bingo’ after Christina shared a video of the games on Twitter with the caption: “I’m not bored with housing development bingo #IStayAtHome #SolidarityInQuarantine.”
Totally Bonkers
In other ‘lockdown’ news, Bongo’s Bingo has been broadcasting live bingo sessions from their bungalow in an attempt to keep fans up-beat and entertained at this very worrying time. Proving that the show must certainly will go on, they’ve been hosting bingo games with a difference – we don’t expect anything less!
The magic lives on with dancing, music, interactive audience participation and of course whacky prizes. Usual kick-off times are 8pm (on Saturday’s) and all you need is a mobile, a pen and some paper. And, for all your hoarders out there, toilet paper doesn’t count!
Glowsticks are optional and there’s no need to get dressed up – many have been playing in their PJ’s! If you fancy taking part with something a little different, you can tune in via their Twitch channel.
Source: White, Nic. “The game must go on: Heartwarming moment nursing home residents enjoy a round of bingo while keeping themselves safe from coronavirus”. Daily Mail. March 27, 2020.
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Comments (1)
Bubles12
03/31/20, 11:03:18 AM
So lovely to see people coming together, so to speak. Even though Bongo’s Bingo is not something I would ever attend, I may have to have a look to see what all the fuss is about.
