Game Changer
A Microsoft employee’s donation gives Providence Transitional Care residents in Spokane a high-tech perk
by Kate Vanskike
The Xbox gaming system has topped the wish lists of kids and teens since it debuted a decade ago. But Xbox—make that its splashy successor, the Xbox 360—is hip among the
senior set, too! Just ask the residents of Providence St. Joseph Care Center & Transitional Care Unit in Spokane.
Produced by Microsoft, Xbox 360 took a giant leap forward last year with the launch of Kinect, a motion sensor that tracks player movement using a webcam-type device, allowing users to jump, wave, dance and shake to activate the controls.
Similar to the Nintendo Wii, Kinect supports a wide variety of games—everything from dancing to bowling, boxing and golf. What sets Kinect apart from the pack is its ability to respond to gestures and spoken commands, without the use of a handheld controller.
A donation doubled
This summer, elderly patients who reside at Providence St. Joseph Care Center got to experience Kinect for themselves with a brand-new Xbox 360 package, a gift from Cathy Curtis, a Microsoft manager, and her husband, Trevor. As a team leader who trains global call centers on the Xbox, Curtis was well versed in Kinect’s potential applications. She also happened to be familiar with Providence St. Joseph Care Center—it was the place her grandmother had spent her final days.
For Curtis, who has been with Microsoft for seven years, it was an “aha” moment. Kinect’s hands-free design was the perfect match for seniors looking to increase their level of activity. “The Kinect and Xbox provide a great opportunity for them to engage in fun activities through games with visitors,” she says.
It was also the ideal choice for Microsoft’s matching gift program, which supports employee donations by making an equivalent cash contribution to the same organization. In Curtis’ case, Microsoft matched her purchase of an Xbox 360, Kinect and games with a $400 donation for St. Joseph to spend on more games or a second console.
The gift of play
The first patient to try out the system was 81-year-old Bill Hale, who is recovering from open-heart surgery at the Providence Transitional Care Unit and has activity restrictions. Steadying himself with a walker in one hand and rolling an imaginary ball with the other, he soon got the hang of the Kinect’s bowling game. His wife and fellow residents cheered him on through a couple of spares while recreational therapist Linda Fairhurst watched out for his safety.
Kinect’s ability to bring people together through movement, entertainment and play was part of the plan for Curtis. “This gift is not only for the residents but for the great staff at St. Joseph’s, too,” she says. “I wanted to support the caring people who have shared my desire to care for those who often slip through the cracks.”