About three weeks ago, the chef at a nursing home in England brought in a video games console, the Nintendo Wii, that belonged to his son so that the staff could play it on the weekend.
But once the residents, ages 80-103, got a gander at the console, they were so enthralled they demanded the staff purchase one immediately. Forget bridge, crosswords, even the telly, all these residents want to do is play Wii.
"They were absolutely hooked.
"They're up of their armchairs and moving about and there's a real team spirit."
The games system has proved to be such a success that executives at Sunrise Senior Living are now planning to buy one for each of their 15 residential homes.
If this goes ahead, inter-care home tournaments would take place with teams of elderly residents travelling to other care homes via mini-buses for matches.
Dr Lorna Layward, research manager at Help the Aged, said: "Anything that gets elderly people up off their feet and trying something new is a very good thing.
Elderly 'addicted' to Nintendo Wii at care home.