Bingocize® was created by Dr. Jason Crandall, Co-Director/Co-Founder at the WKU Center for Applied Science in Health & Aging. He created the socially engaging group-based game that combines health education and exercise in the format of BINGO. Dr. Crandall and his research team have tested the program and demonstrated that older adults who play two times a week for 10-weeks significantly reduce the fear of falling, increase levels of physical activity, and decrease feelings of social isolation. Because Bingocize® contributes to overall health and well-being and has a proven following in 49 states and multiple countries, FCS Extension renewed 25 county licenses for 2024-2026. Nine new agents were trained. Sixteen agents were recertified.   

To help participants learn and use health information focused on behavior related to exercise, the FCS Agent in Mercer County taught Bingocize® to 2-12 participants twice a week for 10- weeks. A total of 20 different people participated. Of these participants, 6 completed a pre- and post-unit evaluation. Ten participants attended at least half of the sessions offered while 1 member attended 19 out of 20 sessions. 

Of the six participants who completed the pre and post evaluations all six reported they agree or strongly agree they feel more comfortable increasing their physical activity as a result of this program. 

Participants reported the following ways in which Bingocize® was helpful:

1. Easier to turn over in bed, get out of a chair and/or get off the commode
2. Watch what I eat and pay attention to food labels
3. Given me more energy to want to exercise
4. How to eat better
5. To have a desire to eat healthier
6. To feel better
7. Better balance and flexibility
8. Helped with memory
9. Helped with social interaction
10. Make new friends
11. Make time for daily workouts
12. Losing weight
13. Muscles have gotten stronger
14. Lowered blood pressure, A1C, and cholesterol 
15. Increased servings of fruits and vegetables

Program Activities: Participants (Bingocizers^®) complete a series of strategically inserted exercises designed to increase or decrease the intensity and volume of exercise. Health education questions are also inserted into the game. Participants rest while numbers are called for the bingo game, then complete more strategically inserted exercises or health education questions, rest during number calling, and so on. This pattern is continued until a Bingocizer® wins the game. Small prizes are awarded to winners. Additional games are played until all planned exercises are completed.

Program Goals:  The overall goals of the program are to help older adults:

• Improve and/or maintain mobility and independence
• Learn and use health information focused on falls reduction and other health-related behaviors
• Engage older adults in social settings

Design/Elements Rationale:

•  A significant barrier to improving the health and well-being of sedentary older adults is getting them to adhere to an exercise-based health promotion program (Picorelli et al., 2014).
• Older adults enjoy and are more likely to participate in programs that are game-centered, interactive, and socially engaging
• Multimodal interventions (targeting multiple aspects of physical and/or cognitive health, such as health education and exercise) are most likely to produce improvements (Park et al., 2011).

Target Population & Recommended Class Size: The program targets sedentary older adults at all ability levels, in a variety of settings, including certified nursing facilities, assisted living, independent living, and community senior centers.

8-20; >20 requires two certified leaders

Program Length:

• Participants play Bingocize^® for one hour 2 times per week for 10 weeks OR
• The program can be even more beneficial if played on an ongoing basis.

Program Approvals:

National Council On Aging (NCOA)- Bingocize® meets the highest- level criteria for evidence-based disease prevention and health promotion programs, as established by the Administration on Aging Evidence-Based Programs Review Committee and qualifies for Title IIID or other applicable discretionary funds.

SNAP-Ed Toolkit- Bingocize® is approved as an evidence-based Obesity Prevention Intervention by the SNAP-Ed Toolkit.