Springfield Standard

The Missouri Health Care Association District IV Golden Age Games will return for their 25th year after a five-year break that began in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event brings together residents from 25 long-term care and assisted living facilities across southwest Missouri for two days of activities focused on friendly competition and community engagement.

The first day of the Games will be held on Friday, October 17, at the Meyer Wellness Center at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar. The second day will take place on Friday, October 24, at the Pat Jones YMCA in Springfield. Both events are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Golden Age Games are designed to provide seniors living in long-term care and assisted living facilities with an opportunity to participate in various activities and socialize with their peers. Events include hog calling, cow milking, horseshoes, basketball toss, soccer kick, bingo, quiz bowl, and wheelchair races. There is also a craft contest with categories such as embroidery, yarn work, woodworking, and an overall facility project. Facilities and their residents can win awards ranging from first to fifth place in each competition. The high team score and spirit awards are among the most anticipated honors.

Facilities participating in the Bolivar games include Ash Grove Healthcare Facility in Ash Grove; Butterfield Residential Care Center, Citizens Memorial Healthcare Facility, and Parkview Health Care Facility in Bolivar; Colonial Springs Healthcare Center in Buffalo; Community Springs Healthcare Facility in El Dorado Springs; Lake Stockton Healthcare Facility in Stockton; Maranatha Village in Springfield; Medicalodges in Neosho; and Northwood Hills Care Center in Humansville.

Facilities taking part in the Springfield games are Autumn Oaks Caring Center in Mountain Grove; Birchpointe Health & Rehabilitation, James River Nursing and Rehabilitation, Springfield Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, Spring Valley Nursing Home, and The Manor at Elfindale in Springfield; Brooke Haven Healthcare in West Plains; Lacoba Homes Inc. in Monett; Lawrence County Manor and Mount Vernon Veterans Home in Mount Vernon; Licking Residential Care in Licking; Roaring River Health and Rehabilitation in Cassville; Shady Oaks Healthcare Center in Thayer; Westgate at Wildwood Ranch in Joplin; and Willow Care Nursing Home in Willow Springs.

For more information about the MHCA Golden Age Games, Roy Pace can be contacted at 417-345-2228 or roy.pace@citizensmemorial.com. Pace is a member of the MHCA Board of Directors and serves as the coordinator for the MHCA District IV Golden Age Games. He is also the administrator of Colonial Springs Healthcare Center in Buffalo.