Bingo helps pensioner recover from depression

Bingo, the game that is such a favourite across the UK in its traditional form and now equally so in its online avatar, turned out to be just what the doctor ordered for Jill Gemmell, a 67 year old pensioner from Derby.

Jill had been suffering from severe depression but thanks to this simple numbers game and the help of a dear friend, she has recovered and is now back and active in her community. She started playing bingo at the local club at the urgings of her friend. “I was very down and rarely left the house,” Jill reminisced. “Then a friend of mine took me along to one of the bingo sessions and I loved it. I joined in more and more and, when one of the committee members resigned, I offered to step in.” Now Jill is on the committee of the Alvaston and Boulton Old People’s Welfare Club in Derby which has bingo games on Tuesdays and Thursdays and also has coffee mornings and whist sessions in the week for its 100 odd members.

Though it is so heartening to hear stories like Jill’s, it is still a reality that many clubs like this one in Derby face closure. However there is a campaign on to prevent such closures and keep these clubs going so older people have continued access to them.

The Department of Health also has been stressing on the importance of these clubs for the elderly population. John Bolton, Finance Chief for Social Care for the Department of Health stressed that it is imperative to allow older people to budget their money rather than provide tailored facilities, thus allowing them to incorporate aspects of their past lives, including their bingo playing habits. “Older people in particular want to go back and enjoy the things they achieved before they became frail.” said Bolton at a recent conference.

Research has proven that regular sessions of playing bingo do help in keeping diseases like dementia at bay, not to mention heighten the quality of life for players. Playing moderate amounts of bingo whether online or at a local club is good for health.

This article was written by Rhea for eyesdownbingo.com