For seniors: Simple and exciting! Ideas for staff performances
In many nursing and welfare facilities, events that match the season and special occasions are often held, right?
Aren’t the staff the ones planning and hosting summer festivals, Respect-for-the-Aged Day celebrations, Christmas events, and more?
You want to put on performances and entertainment that will delight the elderly at these events.
So this time, we’re introducing “Simple! Staff Performance Ideas.”
We’ve included easy options that you can pull off even when you don’t have many days to prepare or much time to practice.
We’ve gathered a wide range of ideas—from things staff can perform to activities in which the elderly can participate.
Use this article as a reference to help your event come alive and turn into a wonderful day.
- [For Staff] Energize Your Nursing Home Respect-for-the-Aged Day! Performance Ideas Full of Laughter and Emotion
- Entertainment and Performances That Delight at Day Services for the Elderly
- For Seniors: Fun Entertainment That Excites at Nursing Homes
- [For Staff at Elderly Care Facilities] Simple Performances to Liven Up a Year-End Party
- Recommended fun performances that will appeal to elderly people
- Performances to Liven Up New Year Parties for Elderly Care Facility Staff
- For Seniors: Fun for Everyone! Christmas Party Activity Ideas
- [Respect-for-the-Aged Day Celebration] Crowd-Pleasing Performances: Ideas That Staff Can Enjoy Too
- [Respect-for-the-Aged Celebration] Guaranteed to Get Everyone Excited! Introducing Perfect Plans to Celebrate Longevity
- Entertainment ideas for year-end parties that seniors will enjoy
- [Christmas Party at the Nursing Home] Staff Take on the Challenge! Fun Performances Everyone Can Enjoy
- [Respect-for-the-Aged Day Celebration] Laughter All Around! Ideas for Performances and Games You Can Enjoy While Seated
- For Seniors: Fun and Lively Exercise Recreation
[For Seniors] Simple and Exciting! Staff Performance Ideas (1–10)
Impersonation
A gift from staff to the residents: a celebrity impersonation show! Dress to the nines with flashy costumes and makeup, and create a stage full of laughter.
It’s a great idea to pick songs from their youth, like nostalgic Showa-era pop and 1970s idol hits.
Rather than just performing, why not turn it into a quiz: “Who am I impersonating?” Even those who are usually quiet often love singing, especially among older adults.
Practice your best impressions so everyone can enjoy a fun event!
kamishibai (paper theater)
Many seniors have probably seen kamishibai, haven’t they? One of the fun things about kamishibai is turning illustrated cards to move the story along as you tell it.
It can help older adults recall the days when they watched kamishibai and enjoy a heartwarming moment.
If you have time, you can prepare thick paper like drawing paper and have staff create an original story.
Using kamishibai borrowed from the library is an easy way to put on a performance.
The key is to read with expression suited to each scene.
Bingo Tournament
With simple preparations and rules—and even prizes up for grabs—bingo is guaranteed to energize any event.
The organizers can also enjoy the planning stage, such as by selecting prizes that seniors will appreciate.
Standard number bingo is fine, but adding a twist—like creating original bingo cards featuring characters—could make it even more fun.
It’s a fail-safe, participatory recreation that gets everyone excited.
[For Seniors] Easy and Exciting! Ideas for Staff Performances (11–20)
Karaoke Contest
Karaoke is a recreational activity enjoyed across generations.
Whether you’re listening or singing, you can share a pleasant time together.
Staff members can perform, and older adults can participate and have fun as well.
Keeping rhythm together and following the lyrics can stimulate the brain and may help prevent dementia.
Choosing favorite songs and singing with one’s own voice can make both mind and body feel more active.
Singing also creates more opportunities to communicate with others, filling the space with a warm, friendly atmosphere.
two-person robe (Nininbaori): a comedic act where two people share one kimono-like garment, with the rear person acting as the arms for the front person
Events at care facilities are a great chance for residents and staff to deepen their connections.
Among them, “Nininbaori” is one of the performances that never fails to draw cheers from participants.
In Nininbaori, two people wear a single haori, standing one behind the other.
The person in back puts their arms through the sleeves and acts as the hands of the person in front—an extremely simple act.
Yet the unexpected mishaps—like struggling to eat food neatly—make it all the more exciting.
Since it requires no special props, it’s easy for busy staff to put into practice without spending much time on preparation or rehearsal.
Having staff and residents enjoy it together also makes it a great recommendation for fostering a warm sense of community within the facility.
prop-based wordplay
For party entertainment, comedy is a classic choice.
To make seniors laugh, simpler bits might be easier to understand.
In that case, we recommend “mono-boke,” which uses various props.
Think up different patterns, like parodies of object names or skits based on situations suggested by the objects.
It can also be fun to test quick thinking by handing someone a prop and having them perform a bit on the spot.
Since speed and volume are key, if you can’t come up with a joke, just power through with momentum—like shouting the object’s name.
fashion show
How about holding a fashion show by seniors, for seniors—something that’s only possible in a gathering of older adults? By letting participants enjoy the fresh experience of dressing up in glamorous fashion, it can be a big, stimulating change and help them feel youthful at heart.
Some people may find it hard to plan their own outfits, so in that case, it might be good for those around them to help, or to ask a professional.
If not only the onlookers but even the person dressing up can present a fresh new look, the event is sure to be a hit.