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)
Dance with everyone
When it comes to entertainment or performances, dance is a classic choice.
I’d be happy if seeing people having fun dancing makes others feel like moving their bodies, too.
If you pick songs people are familiar with—like pop tunes or folk songs—the audience will likely feel more connected.
It might also be good to keep the choreography simple, aiming for something that makes people want to join in.
If you base the choreography mainly on hand movements, it can become a performance everyone can enjoy on the spot while seated.
Play / Skit
At events, flashy, large-scale theatrical performances are a classic attraction.
You might consider crafting a script that matches the atmosphere—drawing on period dramas as a motif or weaving in topical humor.
By referencing widely recognizable works, like popular TV dramas, and adding your own originality to create comedic elements, you can make the performance more approachable.
The longer a drama has been running, the more established its typical patterns become, which makes them easier for audiences to understand and easier to use as script references.
Magic
Magic is a great recommendation for energizing events at senior facilities.
There’s a wide range, from simple card tricks to full-body escape acts.
The trick where a person gets into a box and rods or similar objects are inserted is famous, isn’t it? Let’s bring that kind of heart-pounding magic to seniors.
When the person inside emerges safely, get the venue excited with grand background music, cheers, and applause.
It’s the perfect entertainment for large-scale events at senior facilities.
handclap
Events at care facilities are valuable time for seniors to enjoy themselves.
One activity drawing attention is a handclap dance set to Fitz and The Tantrums’ song “HandClap.” The dance features simple movements, making it easy to learn.
Even staff with limited practice time should find it approachable and suitable for performance.
Seniors can also join in by clapping along and have fun.
The lively rhythm makes it enjoyable to move the body even while seated.
It’s a highly recommended act that everyone can get excited about together.
Soran Bushi
Many facilities are probably thinking about performances for staff to showcase.
There are various ideas like dances and short skits, but how about performing the Soran Bushi dance? Soran Bushi is popular at children’s sports days and in club activities, and the costumes are often vibrant—perfect for a truly eye-catching performance.
Coordinating happi coats or handmade costumes will make it even more festive and liven up the atmosphere.
You’ll likely get the audience clapping along, making it a performance that adds flair to a fun event.
What’s inside the box?
Let’s enjoy a “What’s in the Box?” game with older adults participating.
Prepare a box that only observers can see into (not the person reaching in), and put items like stuffed animals or plastic cups inside.
The player guesses what it is by feeling around.
Because they can’t see what they’re touching, everyone may be surprised by the strange sensations.
It should be lively whether played individually or in teams.
The game encourages communication with others and lets participants have fun together.
A key tip is to prepare plenty of items to put in the box so you’re ready even if the contents are guessed right away.
Quiz Rec
Recreation and quizzes that everyone can enjoy, from children to adults.
Whether it’s a quiz show on TV or a small puzzle tucked into the corner of a magazine for a quick break, don’t you find yourself doing them without thinking? It’s great how you can really focus and get absorbed while you’re thinking.
For older adults as well as everyone else, thinking itself helps stimulate the brain, so even if you don’t know the answer, the act of thinking has value.
Let’s have fun with quizzes themed around seasonal events and festivals.