Recommended recreational activities to help seniors enjoy their time in care facilities

Simple Darts

[Senior Recreation] Easy Activities Using a Whiteboard [Day Service Recreation, Brain Training, Preventive Care]

Simple Darts is a fun game idea you can make using a small whiteboard and magnets.

Draw a large circle on the whiteboard with a smaller circle in the center.

Divide the large circle into eight sections and assign points to each one.

The center circle should be the highest score: 100 points.

Wrap the magnets in any fabric you like.

The rules are simple: throw the magnets at the whiteboard and compete based on the score where they stick.

It’s sure to be exciting as either an individual or team game.

You can easily prepare it since whiteboards and magnets are available at 100-yen shops.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

moko

Report a problem

Fireworks game

“Fireworks game” to close out the summer. If you’ve had fewer chances to set off or go see fireworks, let’s make a grand display to end the season!

This is a target-throwing game themed around fireworks, an essential summer event, where you colorfully decorate the target.

The target is a hula hoop covered with tape, and you throw colored balls at it to decorate the adhesive side of the tape.

Since you need to throw with enough force for the balls to stick to the tape, the game tests not only your focus on aiming but also your ability to control strength.

You can freely choose the colors of the balls, so think about how you want to create your firework as you throw.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

kappamaki

Report a problem

Singing game of “Antagata Dokosa”

[Dementia Prevention] Do brain training by playing the song game 'Antagata Dokosa'!!

Some older adults may have memories of playing ball games to the temari song “Antagata Dokosa.” Here’s a finger play that matches the “Antagata Dokosa” song.

Make a gun shape and a fox shape with your fingers to match the imagery in the lyrics.

To the melody, alternate the finger shapes between left and right.

Once you get used to it, try speeding up the tempo.

In addition to moving your fingers, taking on tasks that feel “a bit difficult” is also said to activate the brain.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Nakajima Junko

Report a problem

Patakara exercises with butterflies

[With Lyrics] Pa-Ta-Ka-Ra Exercises Before Meals ♪ #OralExercises

We’d like to share an idea for training oral functions—such as chewing strength and swallowing ability—set to the well-known children’s song “Butterfly” (Chōchō).

The method is very simple: just replace the lyrics with the sounds pa-ta-ka-ra and sing along.

Because it’s a short song, you can do it anytime, anywhere, without worrying about the setting.

Doing it before meals serves as a warm-up for the mouth and helps prevent aspiration, so timing it before eating makes it even more effective.

Consistency is important, so please try to do it once a day.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

kojifumi

Report a problem

target practice

Feel the Summer! Easy Recreation Using Traditional Uchiwa Fans [Elderly Recreation / Day Service Recreation]

A target-hitting game using uchiwa fans is recommended for older adults because it helps improve concentration.

First, prepare a garment rack, hang uchiwa fans on the hangers, and draw point values on them.

You can throw anything—beanbags, balls, even uchiwa fans.

It’s a competitive game where the player with the highest total of the points they hit wins.

Competing together also enhances communication skills.

It’s appealing because it can be enjoyed as either an individual or team match.

If you draw summery designs on the uchiwa used as targets, you can fully enjoy the season and savor a summery atmosphere.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Nanaka

Report a problem

Patakara exercises with the song ‘Back-to-Back Height Comparison’

A little pre-meal spell♪ Patakara oral exercises!! #shorts #elderly #oralExercises #seniorActivities #dayService #May #Children’sDay #MomoChans

Here’s an idea for mouth exercises using the well-known children’s song “Sekkura-be.” It’s very simple: just change the song’s lyrics to the sounds pa-ta-ka-ra and sing them out loud.

If you’re doing this in a senior care facility, it may be easier to first sing the original song once and then switch to pa-ta-ka-ra.

It’s also helpful to write the lyrics on a whiteboard or print them on paper so everyone can see them.

Doing this before meals can be especially effective in preventing choking, and practicing every day can lead to even better results.

Please give it a try!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

kojifumi

Report a problem

Paper Cup Sumo

Aim for yokozuna! We tried the flapping paper-cup sumo game (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ

There’s a game called paper sumo, where you play with paper wrestlers.

Some older adults may have played it at least once.

Using paper cups and a fan, you can try a different version.

Divide the tabletop in half to set territories, and place paper cups as the wrestlers.

The wrestlers move using the force of air when you flap the fan.

Since it’s sumo, if a wrestler falls off the tabletop ring, they lose.

Flapping the fan back and forth will surely liven up the recreation.

It’s a game where you can almost hear the chant, “Nokotta, nokotta!”

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Nakajima Junko

Report a problem