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[Elderly Day Service] Let’s all have fun! Games and recreational activities
At day service centers, many older adults likely look forward to enjoying recreation and games.
Staff members are probably trying different ideas every day to provide activities that never get boring.
In this article, we’ve picked out recreational activities that can be enjoyed by small and large groups alike.
Taking part in competitive games can also create opportunities for deeper interaction among older adults.
We’ve gathered a wide range—from sports- and exercise-themed activities to those that challenge thinking skills—so please use them as a reference!
[Elderly Day Service] Let’s have fun together! Games and Recreation (1–10)
Music Therapy: Fun with Rhythm
Recreation that uses music is popular with many people.
This time, we’ll introduce ideas for rhythm-based music therapy.
When you move your body in time with a rhythm, it becomes a dual task of both “listening” to the rhythm and “moving” to it at the same time, which creates a situation where the brain is working at full capacity.
Above all, moving together to music is easy to enjoy because it naturally creates excitement and a sense of unity.
Ojami Wobble Game
Many older adults have probably played otedama (beanbag juggling) before, right? Some may have even skillfully used their hands and fingers to juggle two or three beanbags in the air.
Let’s play a fun game that uses familiar otedama to work the fingertips.
Place a paper plate on top of a short piece of a cut plastic wrap or foil core.
Then, place the beanbags on the paper plate one by one.
Since the paper plate is unstable, it wobbles each time you add a beanbag, creating a thrilling, heart-pounding effect.
It seems like older adults can enjoy a bit of tension while engaging in the game.
By the way, “ojami” is what otedama is called in the Kansai region.
A game where you make long words using the Japanese syllabary (gojūon)
Simple yet fun! Here’s a game where you make words using the Japanese syllabary (gojūon).
The rules are easy: Prepare cards with hiragana for all the gojūon and lay them out in order.
Participants create words using the gojūon; they get to keep the cards for the characters used in their word.
Repeat this, and when no more words can be made with the remaining characters, the game ends.
The player with the most cards at the end wins.
It’s perfect brain training because you have to come up with words using limited letters! You can also play in teams and brainstorm words together for extra excitement.
Give it a try!
High touch rec
A high five is when two people clap each other’s hands, often when greeting brightly or feeling happy.
Let’s turn this high five into a recreation activity that seniors can enjoy.
Have everyone sit in a circle on chairs and high-five the person next to them.
Try high-fiving with just one hand, or flip the hands over to change the palm orientation as you go.
Make the seated circle smaller so people can reach to tap someone’s hand, or do double high fives with both hands.
Thinking about who has a free hand and counting to ten while high-fiving can also help train the brain.
It’s an activity that may spark conversations with people who don’t usually talk and broaden communication.
Balloon attraction
It’s a perfect activity for seniors to enjoy casually while seated.
Place a ring on the floor or table and set a balloon in the center.
Attach a longer string to the balloon, and participants reel in the string to pull the balloon toward themselves.
It’s very safe and easy for anyone to join without strain.
Watching the balloon draw closer is the exciting part.
The person who catches the balloon first wins, and making it a team competition helps create a sense of unity in the room.
It’s also fun to try with balloons in red and white for Red Team versus White Team.
Balloon Fight
Raising and lowering your arms isn’t something we do very often in daily life, but it’s essential for activities like getting dressed and cleaning.
This time, we’re introducing Balloon Fight, a game that lets you train your arms while having fun.
Hang a net from the ceiling and line up balloons of various sizes.
Form teams of three, and within a 30-second time limit, compete to see how many balloons you can knock down using fans.
You can make the game more engaging by changing the points based on the size of the balloons that are knocked down.
Give it a try!
Billiards Challenge
Introducing a billiards challenge that lets you train your hands and arms while having fun.
Attach paper cups to the edge of a table and place score labels like 10 points or 30 points.
Put the ball at a designated spot on the opposite side, and use a stick-made cue to strike the ball and aim for a high score.
Adding bonuses—such as doubling the points for balls of a certain color—makes it even more exciting.
It can be done standing or seated, so anyone can join and enjoy.
It’s also recommended as a recreational activity in senior care facilities.