A retirement home has come up with inventive games using table tennis balls, balloons and foam tubes to keep their residents active.

Movement education professional Joël Kruisselbrink has come up with innovative activities to keep care home residents in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, moving.

Fantastic videos – some of which have been viewed more than 37million times – captured men and women aged between 70 to 105 playing whack-a-mole with foam mallets and tubes.

Other residents stuck balls to the top of a heavily taped helmet and used bike pumps to knock over a tower of cups with a table tennis ball.

Joel said: “There are many benefits. Residents get a sparkle in their eyes again because they enjoy it. They live in the present moment and become active.

“It’s amazing to see people smiling again. That’s what I do it for.

“We had previously trained with the more active residents, the ones who enjoy moving. Unfortunately, many people in nursing homes don’t like to exercise.

“So, we made it more playful, so they wouldn’t even realise they were moving. Movement should be fun.

“The most inactive residents became active again which was amazing. Action-reaction movement games work really well.

“People always participate because they don’t have to think too much. They just have to react, like when a ball comes toward them.

“After playing the games, they spontaneously start helping set the table or unload the dishwasher. It’s a win-win situation.

“Even people who don’t want to participate start joining in because it doesn’t feel like they have to move.

“Sometimes, you just have to start moving without asking if they want to join. Seeing movement inspires movement.”