Recommended recreational activities to help seniors enjoy their time in care facilities
Various recreational activities are held daily at nursing care facilities such as day services to help maintain and improve physical function, relieve stress, and promote interaction with others.
However, many people may struggle with questions like: What kinds of activities will seniors actually enjoy? I can’t think of good ideas.
In this article, we introduce recreational activities that seniors can enjoy at care facilities.
We’ve gathered a variety of options, including light physical exercises, vocal activities, and hands-on crafting.
We hope you’ll use these ideas as inspiration for your daily recreational programs!
- [For Seniors] Simple Recreational Activities You Can Enjoy While Seated
- [For Seniors] Enjoyment at Day Care: A Roundup of Games and Recreational Activities
- [Evolving Daycare Services] A summary of engaging recreational initiatives that excite older adults
- [March Health Topic] Introducing Recreational Activities for Seniors!
- For Seniors: Effective Recreation for Preventing Care Needs—Have Fun While Staying Healthy
- [For Seniors] Today’s Recommended Activity: Fun and Engaging
- [For Seniors] Fun and Engaging Brain-Training Recreation
- For Seniors: Enjoy Every Day! A Collection of Senior Recreation Ideas
- [For Seniors] Introducing Recreational Activities Anyone Can Enjoy at Geriatric Health Facilities!
- [Elderly Day Service] Let’s all have fun! Games and recreational activities
- Enjoy a Comfortable Hospital Stay! Fun Pastime Activities Recommended for Seniors
- [For Seniors] Fun! Games and Ideas to Boost Memory
- [November Health Topic] Indoor Recreation Ideas for Older Adults
Recommended Recreational Activities (1–10) for Seniors to Enjoy at Care Facilities
Word association game
A word-association game that offers not only words but many ways to expand and enjoy it.
In response to the question “What comes to mind when you hear ‘banana’?”, someone might say “yellow,” and then you continue by asking, “What comes to mind when you hear ‘yellow’?” There’s no need to worry about the order of answers—just have everyone freely say whatever words come to mind.
It’s best to write the answers on a whiteboard or similar so everyone can see them.
It’s also fun when the chain of words leads to results you never would have imagined at the start.
balloon volleyball
It may look like a light, casual activity, but balloon volleyball is a recommended recreation that gives your upper body a solid workout.
Throwing a ball back and forth can pose a risk of injury, but with a balloon there’s no such worry, and its soft, unpredictable movements actually make the volleyball-style game more engaging.
You can play one-on-one facing each other, or if you have a larger group, form teams in a single line and compete head-to-head.
Hitting it with your bare hands works, and using a handheld fan expands your reach, helping rallies last longer.
Restricted Shiritori
Shiritori is a simple word game you can enjoy anytime, anywhere—a classic recreational game for all ages.
But playing plain shiritori can get dull, and people often lose interest halfway through.
How about trying a variant with a small twist—shiritori with restrictions? It’s still shiritori, but adding light rules like “only three-letter words” or “food items only” makes it much more thought-provoking and exciting.
Recommended Recreational Activities for Seniors to Enjoy at Care Facilities (11–20)
Onigiri Concentration
Many people have probably played Concentration (also known as Memory), where you flip over face-down cards to find matching pairs.
This game adapts that idea using cards featuring familiar onigiri fillings.
The rules are the same as with playing cards: remember the cards flipped during your turn and your opponent’s, and try to make matches.
Because the theme—onigiri fillings—is so familiar, you can connect it with your own taste memories and casually improve your memory skills.
coloring book
Many people probably have fond memories of enjoying coloring books as children.
These are pictures with only outlines drawn in lines, which you fill in with colors using your own ideas.
Imagining clearly which colors to use and what kind of picture you want to create—and experimenting with color balance and techniques—can also serve as brain training.
When the motif is very clear, people tend to color it faithfully, which makes it harder to express individuality.
So it’s recommended to have them color shapes like patterns made of squares and circles, where personal expression can shine through.
Plastic bottle standing game
The “Plastic Bottle Stand Game” is perfect for stretching and letting off steam.
First, sit in a chair and place a water-filled plastic bottle in front of you.
Then prepare a stick with a rubber band attached to its tip, and use it to stand the bottle upright.
It not only exercises your fingertips and arms but also trains your concentration.
Above all, the sense of exhilaration when you get the bottle to stand is the real appeal.
Start by choosing a stick with a length and thickness that feel easy to handle.
Then adjust the amount of water to your liking—the more water, the more strength you’ll need to make it stand.
radio calisthenics
The Radio Calisthenics No.
2 that’s broadcast on the radio—how about arranging it at a slower tempo? The basic movements are the same, so you can still expect solid stretching benefits.
There’s also a seated choreography for this slow version, which lets you stretch your upper body efficiently without putting strain on your lower body.
Another reason to recommend it is that for some people, just hearing it brings back fond memories.