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Seniors use virtual reality to experience Paris 2024 Games
Senior citizens at a Minneapolis care home are doing a virtual reality version of the Olympic Games.
MINNEAPOLIS — With the help of a headset, a senior care home transforms into a bike trail. Mount Olivet Careview Home residents like Rick Heinz are using virtual reality to experience their own version of the 2024 Summer Games.
“They keep us pretty busy, they really do,” Heinz said. “I know I’m in my chair but my mind is telling me I’m at the Olympics.”
The system was designed specifically for seniors, and the company behind it, Rendever, releases new destinations weekly.
In Paris, recreational therapist Erica Thompson guides the group to tennis courts, soccer fields, swimming pools, boxing rings and more.
“We’re not just a facility that does Bingo,” Thompson said. “We’re not just a facility that throws on a movie. We like to make sure that our programs have purpose.”
Thompson says they received Rendever in January as part of a state-funded performance improvement plan.
“Something cool about this, too, is we have some residents with macular degeneration … who are able to be successful with seeing through the VR goggles,” she said.
Care takers report these interactive sessions reduce social isolation and depression.
For Heinz, it’s a chance to be active. He played several sports growing up and has always enjoyed the Olympics. He plans to tune in when the games begin Friday. He’s already watched most of the qualifier games.
“I hope sometime that it becomes available for everybody,” Heinz said of the 360-degree sports experience. “It’s that unique an experience.”
Rendever has also developed a program allowing those in senior living facilities to revisit their old neighborhoods and homes.
Last week, prosecutors charged John Sawchak with attempted 2nd-degree murder and other felony charges after he allegedly shot his neighbor Davis Moturi.
MINNEAPOLIS — Following the shooting between two neighbors, the Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously to request that the city’s auditor conduct an independent investigation into the incidents and cases between Davis Moturi and John Sawchak.
Moturi was allegedly shot by his neighbor, Sawchak, on Wednesday, Oct. 23 but Minneapolis police did not arrest Sawchak until days later.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara defended not arresting Sawchak sooner, calling it a “high-risk” situation. O’Hara later said the victim, who had complained about harassment from Sawchak for months, was failed by police. Sawchak was arrested this past weekend after an hours-long standoff.
Moturi suffered a fractured spine, two broken ribs, and a concussion in the shooting. “Mr. Moturi’s life matters and I’m sorry that for nearly a year, MPD did not treat it like it did,” said Council Member Robin Wonsley in a news release, “Today’s vote affirms that the City Council is committed to taking meaningful actions towards accountability and restoration, starting with this independent review.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey released this statement:
“Mayor Frey fully supports an independent review of this incident. The mayor and City are committed to always doing better, and this means closely examining past actions and finding where there may be ways to improve and grow. The mayor extends his condolences to Davis Moturi, his wife, Caroline, and their family and friends. The safety of our residents is a top priority and any form of violence or hate speech is completely unacceptable and does not align with who we are as a community. Brian O’Hara will continue to be the Minneapolis Police Chief.”
“This Valentine’s Day, 2025, will mark the five-year anniversary of the premiere of ‘Love is Blind,” Vanessa said on the Season 7 finale. “And, it is gonna be the launch of Season 8, which takes place in Minneapolis.”
The episode also revealed three of the new cast members, one of whom, “Alex,” told Lachey Minneapolis is “not like a major city, but it’s also not a small town,” which he said is just one of the obstacles in his way of finding the one.
“I just never found the right person that clicked for me,” he said.
Meantime, you can bone up on Seasons 1-7 streaming now on Netflix.
MINNEAPOLIS — How much do you know about your grandma’s upbringing?
“The Stories From My Grandmother’s Hands” is a book that aims to show young Black children how their grandmas lived through beautiful illustrations and descriptions.
KARE 11 News at Noon shared more on Thursday about the impact that this book will have.
