Lovely senior life

[For Seniors] Recreations to Experience in August

Worked as a certified care worker for 17 years.Nanaka
I’ve been working as a certified care worker for 17 years. I’m Nanaka, a caregiving web writer. I decided to pursue this profession because I wanted a job that would help people. Having worked in day care for many years, I’ve experienced a wide variety of recreational activities. Exercise set to music, in particular, always created a cheerful atmosphere and was very well received. I’d be delighted to continue delivering writing that resonates with readers through caregiving-related articles. Thank you for your support.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

At day service centers and other senior facilities, staff are always thinking up recreational activities that elderly participants will enjoy.

We recommend seasonal activities that help stimulate both mind and body.

In this article, we’ll introduce recreational ideas that are perfect for August!

Speaking of August, Japan is full of unique seasonal events like festivals and Obon!

We’ve gathered many activities inspired by the classic sights and sounds of summer.

There are also refreshing ideas you can only experience during the summer, so please use them as a reference.

[For Seniors] Recreational Activities to Experience in August (71–80)

Awa Odori Exercise

Awa Odori Exercise Basics (Tempo-Up Version)

Awa Odori Exercise

Awa Odori, the traditional performing art of Tokushima Prefecture.

It’s known as one of Japan’s three major Bon dances, and every August a large festival is held in Tokushima City.

Let’s try a set of exercises inspired by Awa Odori! The actual dance moves the hands and feet in quick, intricate ways and has quite a fast pace, but the exercises introduced here are more relaxed—and you can even do them while seated, so no worries.

Move your whole body with big motions and stretch freely as you exercise.

Let’s power through the summer with energy!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Uchiwa making

Today's activity at Day Service Asumiru

Uchiwa making

Uchiwa fans are a summer essential, and making your own makes using one even more fun.

So why not create a fan that’s uniquely yours by drawing your favorite pictures or writing words on it? These days, DIY uchiwa kits are even sold at 100-yen shops.

You could draw summer-themed motifs like seasonal vegetables or goldfish to boost the summer mood, or make a personalized fan with your name on it—how lovely!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Yo-yo fishing

[Tall Guy's Day Service ~Summer Festival~] The scene of wearing yukata and enjoying yo-yo fishing feels just like being at a festival fair!

Yo-yo fishing

Yoyo fishing is something you’re almost guaranteed to see at summer festivals and temple fairs.

Haven’t most people tried it at least once? It’s easy for anyone to enjoy, anywhere.

These days, you can get all the supplies at a 100-yen shop.

Fill a washbasin or bucket with water and float colorful water balloons on top, and you’ll instantly feel the summer festival vibe! The paper twist made from tissue tears easily when wet, so be careful when you fish.

And it’s nice that you usually get to take one balloon even if you don’t catch any.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

ring toss

Ring toss: Today’s recreation at Day Service Sumire. We got it—1,000 points!

ring toss

Ring toss is a game that everyone can enjoy, from small children to adults.

It’s great because you can easily play it indoors.

Let’s enjoy ring toss together and get into the festive summer fair spirit! You can make the rings out of newspaper and the like.

Decide how many rings each person gets, and you can either throw them onto papers marked with different point values to compete for scores, or use plastic bottles as targets and see if you can land the rings on them—both ways are fun.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

lottery game with many strings (Senbonbiki)

If you pull all the strings in the candy lottery, it turns into a rhythm battle—our family is having way too much fun lol himawari-CH

lottery game with many strings (Senbonbiki)

Have you ever tried senbonbiki? It’s a festival game where there are lots of strings, and you pick one to pull—the prize attached to the end of that string is what you get.

Even if you spot the prize you want and go for it, there are, as the name suggests, a thousand strings, and they’re arranged so you lose track of where each string leads along the way.

So you have no idea which string is connected to which prize.

It’s the perfect game to get everyone excited as you all aim for the big prize—senbonbiki!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Uchiwa Volleyball

Balloon volleyball

Uchiwa Volleyball

Let’s try playing volleyball using fans and balloons.

Unlike a ball, a balloon moves more slowly and is easier to track with your eyes, and because it’s light, you can hit it even if you don’t have much strength in your hands.

You can also play while seated, so you won’t be moving around, making it safe.

If the balloon is about to drift out of the circle, you can fan it to change its direction.

It’s a recreational activity that can be enjoyed by both small and large groups.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

[Reordering Quiz] Summer Festival Foods

Brain-teaser Quiz 💡 #BrainTraining #Quiz #Puzzle

[Reordering Quiz] Summer Festival Foods

It’s a simple quiz where you rearrange the given hiragana to complete a word.

Setting a theme—like “foods at summer festivals”—can serve as a hint and also let participants enjoy the seasonal vibe.

You can start by having them physically rearrange hiragana cards and then move on to having them rearrange the letters in their heads, so they can enjoy the increased difficulty.

Through the questions, inviting everyone to recall their own summer festival memories can also help liven things up.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

In conclusion

I introduced some recreational games to play in August. August often brings to mind summer festivals, so if you combine various activities and set them up like festival stalls, it can be both nostalgic and fun. Let’s find activities everyone can enjoy and beat the heat together!