Bingocize® is an evidence-based health promotion program that strategically combines the game of bingo, health education, and/or exercise. Trained facilitators may select between separate 10-week workshops that focus on exercise-only, exercise and falls prevention, or exercise and nutrition. Each workshop includes a facilitator’s script for each session, participants’ materials, and “take home” cards for participants to complete exercises and tasks at home to reinforce the weekly health education information. Participants play Bingocize® twice per week, with each 45–60-minute session consisting of exercises (range of motion, balance, muscle strengthening, and endurance exercises) and/or health education questions. Workshops can be delivered using a traditional in-person bingo game, along with printed curriculum facilitator and participants’ materials. However, facilitators and participants are recommended to use a stand-alone online version, Bingocize® Online, to play Bingocize® in-person or remotely. This adds a fun, interactive technology component to the original game. 

To view a short video of the program in action, visit https://youtu.be/meCfC0CU4fg 

Target Behavior: Healthy Eating, Physical Activity and Reducing Screen Time

Intervention Type: Direct Education

Bingocize® targets adults and older adults in community, faith-based, health care, and USDA program (not National School Lunch Program) settings. The program was designed for community-dwelling older adults of all ethnicities and socioeconomic strata. To date, the program has been used in congregate meal sites, community senior centers, adult daycares, certified nursing homes, libraries, assisted living/independent living facilities, memory care facilities, and hospitals/trauma centers. The number of participants varies, based on the type of facility. At the community senior centers and assisted living/independent living facilities, the average number of participants ranged from 8-20 people per group, while certified nursing homes often attract over 20.

Setting: Community (Live), Faith-based community, Health care, Indian Tribal Organizations, USDA program sites (not National School Lunch Program)

Target Audience: Adults, Older Adults, People with disabilities

Race/Ethnicity: All

Bingocize® includes program facilitator curriculum, participants’ curriculum, and exercise equipment. These intervention components are essential to ensure participants participate in the exercise program and engage in the health education curriculum. Participants (Bingocizers™) complete a series of strategically inserted exercises, which can be modified to increase or decrease the intensity and volume of exercise, based on participants’ abilities. Health education questions are also inserted into the game to increase participants’ knowledge on certain areas of health, such as falls prevention and nutrition. Nutrition-themed curriculum reinforcements are awarded to winners of the Bingocize® games. Enough curriculum reinforcements for one 10-week unit are included.  

 

The available Bingocize® materials include:

• Reusable Bingocize® in a Box: Official Bingocize® shirt for a facilitator, curriculum reinforcements for one workshop, a quick-start facilitator guide, and exercise equipment for 20 participants, including resistance bands and therapy balls.  
• Workshop and marketing materials for participants are available for download after successfully completing the online training. 

Below are typical Bingocize program components and cost, but program cost may be tailored based on available budgets. Email kristeen@bingocize.com for more details.

• A 2-year license fee is $400.00 per organization, for the first county being licensed, and then $300 per county for each additional county. Licensing includes access to all delivery modes of Bingocize® (traditional and online) and allows the licensed organization to use the program in an unlimited number of facilities (as long as the facilities are normally serviced/operated in by the licensed organization) within one county. If the organization plans to use the program in more than one county, an additional license is required for each additional county. For example, an organization purchasing a license for 3 counties would pay $1000 for the licensing fee. Review the license agreement.
• Cost for initial 2-year license term: Online training is $150.00 per person. Training includes online access to targeted educational and marketing materials for participants, as well as a manual for facilitators.
• Bingocize® in a Box is $350 (plus shipping and handling). The durable and reusable box contains equipment for up to 20 participants, but the box does NOT include a bingo game set. The box Includes resistance bands, therapy balls, an official Bingocize® t-shirt for one facilitator, a facilitator’s quick-start quide, and themed (exercise, falls prevention, or nutrition) curriculumn reinforcements for one 10-week workshop (20 sessions). You may choose which pack to include in your intial box, but can reorder additional curriculum reinforcements. Purchase of at least 1 box is required with a license.
• Curriculum reinforcements are awarded to game winners. Typical curriculum reinforcements include small personal items e.g., lotion, shampoo, etc. (prizes are not provided), however, we offer optional curriculum reinforcement packages that can be used as prizes during Bingocize® play.   

Bingocize® conducted community-based evaluations and included rural and lower-income older adults (>60 years old), most suffering from multiple chronic health conditions. The overall objectives for these investigations were to determine the effect of Bingocize® on functional performance, gait, health activation, cognition, and health knowledge (falls prevention/osteoarthritis). These investigations highlighted significant improvements in older adults’ upper and lower body strength, knowledge of falls prevention/osteoarthritis, gait, health activation, and specific aspects of cognition. 

Multiple research studies, as well as actual implementation in older adult facilities, confirmed program facilitators and participants accepted the Bingocize® program. For example, participant adherence during studies was 93%, and retention was above 90%.

Published research includes: 

• Older Adults’ Functional Performance and Health Knowledge After a Combination Exercise, Health Education, and Bingo Game
• A Mobile Application for Improving Functional Performance and Health Education in Older Adults: A Pilot Study
• Functional Performance in Older Adults after a Combination Multicomponent Exercise Program and Bingo Game

Evidence-based Approach: Research-tested

Based on the SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework, the following outcome indicators can be used to evaluate intervention progress and success.

	Readiness and Capacity – Short Term (ST)	Changes – Medium Term (MT)	Effectiveness and Maintenance – Long Term (LT)	Population Results (R)
Individual	ST3
Environmental Settings
Sectors of Influence

• ST3a: Physical activity and leisure sport
• ST3b: Physical activity when you breathed harder than normal
• ST3c: Physical activity to make your muscles stronger (muscular strength)

Website: Visit https://www.wku.edu/bingocize/ for more information on Bingocize®. 

Contact Person:

Kristeen Owens

Vice President

Bingocize

Email: kristeen@bingocize.com

 

*Updated as of August 8, 2023