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 (1–10)

Ice stick puzzle

[Senior Recreation] Reku Craftsman Series Part 142: "Ice Cream Stick Puzzle"

Ice stick puzzle

Would you like to try a puzzle made with popsicle sticks? It’s easy to make! First, prepare about 10 to 15 popsicle sticks and line them up, then paste a printed picture (on copy paper) over the top.

Once it’s dry, use a craft knife to cut along the gaps between the sticks to separate them.

Now you’re ready to go! You don’t have to buy and eat ice cream to get the sticks—you can find them at 100-yen shops and similar stores, so give it a look.

This puzzle is super easy and fun, since you just swap the sticks left and right!

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Healthy Hula Dance

Look up at the night stars: Health Hula, Care Hula

Healthy Hula Dance

How about enjoying some hula dancing with a tropical vibe? When you think of hula, you picture women wearing grass skirts and men in aloha shirts dancing to Hawaiian songs.

Let’s try enjoying it like a health exercise, even while seated.

Wearing an aloha shirt or a lei will help set a summery mood.

And it doesn’t have to be Hawaiian music—dance to whatever music you like.

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Making vase mats and coasters

Vase mat and coasters made with string and paper plates (Monthly Day, August 2021) #craft #elderly #nursingCare #dayService #easy #handKnitting

Making vase mats and coasters

Let’s make the perfect coaster for summer—great for pretty flowers or a glass filled with a cold, delicious drink! All you need is a slightly deep paper plate and 1–2 colors of string you like.

First, cut 19 evenly spaced slits, 2 cm apart, around the rim of the paper plate.

Next, fix one end of the string to the back of the plate, then pull the string tight and hook it into each slit you made.

After you’ve hooked the string into all the slits, begin weaving: pass the string over and under the stretched strands, working from the center outward.

If you want a coaster with two or more colors, tie on a different color at any point and continue weaving in the same way.

Once you’ve woven to your preferred size, remove the piece from the plate, tie off the excess string, trim it, and you’re done!

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[For Seniors] Recreational Activities to Experience in August (11–20)

fireworks festival

[4K] Japan’s Most Moving! 29th Akagawa Fireworks Festival 2019 “A Hundred Flowers in Full Bloom” — The Overlapping Stories of Each Person in the Night Sky (shot on BMPCC4K)

fireworks festival

How about enjoying a summertime tradition: a fireworks festival? The huge blooms that blossom across the night sky are a sight everyone looks forward to during the hot season.

If there’s a local fireworks show, it’s great to go attend; or you can make your own small festival by using available space, like the parking lot of a care facility.

Another option is to skip the big set-piece fireworks and savor the refined charm of sparklers.

The glittering showers of light will become an unforgettable memory.

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flowing somen (nagashi-somen)

[Authentic] Tried nagashi-somen at home!

flowing somen (nagashi-somen)

Speaking of summer, it’s the perfect season for somen noodles.

A lot of people probably get tired of eating just somen all the time, though.

That’s when I recommend nagashi-somen—the flowing somen setup that can really switch up the mood, or rather, change it a lot! These days there are all kinds of nagashi-somen gadgets for sale.

Some swirl the noodles around in a circle, while others let them slide down from the top like a water slide.

It’s so much fun to eat together while everyone chats and laughs.

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Summer Mural

[Care Recreation] Create a Hawaiian summer wall mural with hibiscus! [Recre]

Summer Mural

Let’s create a mural bursting with summer vibes to lift the mood of the season! We’ll make flowers using tissue paper you can even find at 100-yen shops.

Let’s go with hibiscus—classic summer blooms with a tropical feel.

Use tissue paper and pipe cleaners for the flowers, and construction paper for the leaves.

Make lots and decorate— the 3D effect looks very luxurious.

It would also be lovely to craft the sea and sky with construction paper.

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Shaved ice with whole fruit

[Experiment] I tried making shaved ice using whole fruits!

Shaved ice with whole fruit

Shaved ice made by freezing fruits like strawberries and mandarins as they are and shaving them is steadily becoming popular! It might feel like an unfamiliar snack for older adults, but new experiences can stimulate the brain.

Scoop out the insides of your favorite fruits—such as melon, apple, or orange—and put them straight into the freezer! Keep the skins after scooping, since they can be used as bowls.

If it feels a bit low on moisture, it’s also great to freeze the fruit together with store-bought juice.

Doesn’t this sound like the perfect menu for a summer snack activity?

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