A few times each week for the past three years, Colo-area sen­iors Dorothy Cerka, Bon­­nie Florke and Patty Geer have gathered at the local senior center and vie against each other in Wii interactive games as a way to stay in shape and enjoy social interaction.

The trio of friends, two of whom are cousins, are part of Iowa State University Extension’s LIFE program (Living well through Intergenerational Fitness and Exercise). The program is considered to be one-of-a-kind in the country. Thanks to a grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture Rural Health and Safety Education, the pilot program launched in 2011.

Seven exercise sites for sen­­iors were set up in Story...