Chess whiz teaches seniors right moves

Sitting in her wheelchair, Rita DeVito can only move her head and left arm. That doesn’t curb the 74-year-old Scottsdale woman’s enthusiasm and ravenous appetite for chess, a game she started playing only three weeks ago.

“It’s fun,” said DeVito, paralyzed with multiple sclerosis. “I’ve always been curious about chess but never had the opportunity to try it.”

DeVito’s opportunity came from Patrick Ellis of Scottsdale, who teaches chess at senior residences throughout the Valley, including where DeVito lives at Dream Catcher Assisted Living in Scottsdale. He also works with residents of Shea Gardens and Freedom Inn of Scottsdale.

In July, Ellis started the Silver Knights, a nonprofit group to bring chess to older folks who wouldn’t have the chance to play it.

Ellis said Internet research indicates that chess can curtail the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. He figures it’s a lot better challenging a person’s mind rather than just letting them watch TV.

“I’ve taught one person with Parkinson’s (disease) who is as smart as anybody but can barely move the (chess) pieces,” Ellis said. “He has problems speaking but, like a lot of people at the places I go to, he doesn’t just want to sit around. I’m thinking that if I can get these people to play chess, it could help stave off Alzheimer’s.”

Gaile Dixon, owner of Dream Catcher, said she thinks Ellis’ methods are working. He spends an hour each week, at his own cost, for 52 weeks teaching residents.

He uses flash cards to test residents toward the end of each session and leaves study material with them or their caregivers. His Web site, www.thesilverknights.org, offers more information.

“The biggest challenge we face with residents is boredom,” Dixon said. “Even though this might be complicated, some of the people really enjoy it. We have all types of people with various physical and mental conditions.

“Even for those with Alzheimer’s, this gives them something to hold on to. They may have difficulty concentrating, but this gives them great interaction with the teacher and the other residents who join the group.”

Ellis, 52, is a former landscape designer who this year developed fibromyalgia, a painful muscular condition. He isn’t working and has completely funded the chess venture thus far. He teaches up to 20 residents at six assisted living homes in a 5-mile radius of his home near Bell and Scottsdale roads.

“I’m hoping some chess clubs want to get involved with me,” Ellis said. “The people who are able to learn get a twinkle in their eyes and are happy each week I come by. I feel I’m helping people who might be living a very lonely life.

“The mind is like a muscle,” Ellis added. “Keep it active and you’ll have less a chance of getting something like Alzheimer’s. I love doing this. I see how much fun they’re having and so am I.”