It’s Not JUST Bingo!
By Lynn M. D’Angelo, CTRS, Director of Therapeutic Recreation at Masonicare at Bishop Wicke Health Center
For more than 20 years as a Recreation Therapist, there’s one activity people immediately associate with our department... bingo!
When someone asks what I do for a living, their response is often, “Oh, so you play bingo a lot? That must be a fun job!”
While bingo is not the only activity we offer, it is certainly fun and so much more than a game. What many people don’t see are the countless therapeutic benefits happening right before our eyes as each number is called.
In fact, did you know that bingo is approaching its 100th birthday in 2029? For nearly a century, bingo has brought people together through laughter, friendly competition, and meaningful social connection.
In the world of Therapeutic Recreation, bingo servers an even greater benefit. Every game provides an opportunity to:
- Strengthen or maintain hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills
- Improve or maintain concentration, attention, and listening skills
- Stimulate memory and cognitive function
- Reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation by encouraging social interaction
- Boost confidence, promote emotional well-being, and relieve stress
- Create moments of joy, purpose, and accomplishment
Research has shown that individuals who participate in recreational activities have shorter hospital stays and appear to recover faster following surgery or an illness as compared with those who do not.
For us, bingo and other activities alike are never simply about filling time. It’s about preserving independence, encouraging friendships, exercising the mind, strengthening the body, and reminding every resident that they are capable, valued, and connected.
So yes… we play bingo.
But what we are really doing is improving the quality of life and offering an opportunity to make each day a little brighter – one number at a time. Because it’s never just bingo… it’s Recreation Therapy in action.
