Fun & Friendship: Residents at The Terraces are dealt a hand of happiness with the game “Tripoley”

When Don and Pat King moved to The Terraces at Bonita Springs, they brought more than furniture and clothing with them – they also brought Tripoley to the community, introducing this fun, fast-paced card game to their newfound friends.

Fun & Friendship:Residents at The Terraces are dealt a hand of happiness with the game “Tripoley”

Before they knew it, the game caught on in a big way. So big, in fact, that now several groups of eight meet once or twice weekly in the cardroom to place their chips, deal their cards, and strategize their next moves. All of this is done to a chorus of friendly banter, chatting back and forth, and lots of laughter. To put it simply, these players are having a lot of fun. The residents love the game so much that Mr. King even wrote a song about it, and everyone knows the words!

The website GreatSeniorLiving.com says: “Here’s where the subject of fun and play gets really interesting. The importance of play can’t be overstated. That’s true for everybody, but it might be particularly true for seniors. After all, in our later years, many of us become more prone to issues that can affect our health and happiness. So any activities that can help us restore or prolong our vitality are essential. Having fun is a lot more powerful in that regard than most people probably realize.

In fact, scientific studies continue to show that play and fun activities—for older adults or people of any age—can have several major benefits. For example, play has the power to help:

• Improve how your brain works. Do you want to maintain your memory and optimize your ability to learn new things? Playing and having fun—on a regular basis—can help you avoid memory problems and enhance your creativity and mental sharpness.
• Heal, establish, or maintain relationships. Our social lives are incredibly important for our overall well-being. However, a lot of seniors are lonely. But fun and play can enable seniors to make new friends or improve existing relationships. After all, things like laughter and friendly competition are known to increase harmony, trust, empathy, and intimacy among people who experience them together.
• Improve your mental and emotional well-being. Do you like the way you feel when you have a brighter outlook on life and your sense of time recedes into the background? Engaging in fun and playful activities can expand your optimism, multiply your moments of joy, and reduce your stress. It can even help you prevent depression.
• Extend your life and improve your physical vitality. Who doesn’t want to feel younger or more energetic? Creating plenty of fun moments in your life can be a good way to boost your immune system, reduce your risk of illness, and minimize your perception of any existing pain you might already have.

As you can see, play should be a major part of life for everyone. We can all probably use many more experiences of pure child-like joy. It’s who we are, no matter our age.”

So how is Tripoley played? The game’s website explains that it is a standard deck card game played with a special layout (or board) and poker chips. Each hand has three phases: “Hearts”, “Poker”, and “Michigan Rummy”. All cards are dealt out, including one extra hand which remains unseen. Players place chips in the spaces for the special combinations on the playing mat/board, the “Poker” pot, and the “Kitty”. The first phase pays off for holding certain cards or combinations (that match the combinations on the playing layout/board). The second phase is a hand of poker; each player selecting five cards from his hand to play. A hand of Poker betting takes place, with bets added to the “Poker” pot, and the winner wins the “Poker” pot. In the third phase, players play a slight variation of the game of Michigan, and the first to go out wins the chips in the “Kitty”.

Recreation, special events, holiday celebrations, educational programs, guest speakers, and a variety of inspiring activities take place throughout the year at The Terraces at Bonita Springs as part of the community’s active lifestyle programs. The Terraces is the only LifePlan Community for senior living in the Bonita Springs area. Living choices include independent living, assisted living, memory support, skilled nursing and rehabilitation. All levels of care, including assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory support are open for direct admittance, with no entrance fee.

For more information, visit TheTerracesatBonitaSprings.com or call 239.221.8907.