[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!
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- [For Seniors] Enjoyment at Day Care: A Roundup of Games and Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Refresh Your Mood! Lively, Get-Moving Games
- [For Seniors] Fun Recreational Activities Without Equipment
- [For Seniors] Enjoy safely even during the COVID-19 pandemic: Seated activities
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- [For Seniors] Enjoyable Indoor Activities! Recreations and Games That Engage the Mind and Body
- [For Seniors] Recommended! Seasonal Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Recreational Activities Enjoyable in Large Groups
[Elderly Day Service] Let’s Have Fun Together! Games and Recreational Activities (21–30)
Yo-yo fishing
Here’s an idea for “yo-yo fishing,” perfect for summertime recreation.
In this simple game, you hook and lift colorful water balloons floating in a tub using a hook instead of a fishing hook.
It helps stimulate upper-limb movement—from fingers to shoulders—as well as concentration.
It’s also appealing because anyone can enjoy it safely, whether standing or seated.
Beyond the joy of a successful catch, it’s sure to spark lively conversations with other participants watching.
This popular activity lets you enjoy the nostalgic atmosphere of a traditional summer festival and is ideal for creating summer memories.
Fireworks game
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.
[Elderly Day Service] Let's have fun together! Games and Recreation (31–40)
Who is the master of the uchiwa?!
Speaking of summer, uchiwa fans are a must-have, right? They’re convenient and easy to use, and they’re cherished as items that blow away the heat.
This time, we’re introducing a recreation activity using uchiwa.
It’s a game where you use a fan to put tissues into a box! You can enjoy competing to see who can put the most tissues in.
As long as you have a fan, it’s an easy game you can play not only at day service centers but also at home.
It helps strengthen the hands and arms, and it’s great for stimulating the brain, so we highly recommend it.
Association Quiz ~Food Edition~
Let me introduce a game called “Association Quiz,” where you guess the food in question using three hints.
As the hints are revealed, the identity of the food gradually becomes clearer, but those with sharp intuition might reach the answer before the final hint.
You can write the questions on a whiteboard or read them aloud so anyone can join, and it works well for both small and large groups.
It’s also great fun to play while chatting with the person next to you—saying things like, “What could it be?”—so I highly recommend it.
Onigiri Game
Let us introduce the “Onigiri Game,” a fun way to rehabilitate from fingers to arms.
Connect a stick and a plate with a string, placing the stick on your near side and the plate on the opposite side.
Set the rice balls (onigiri) on the plate to start.
Participants use their hands to turn the stick and wind up the string.
The plate will gradually be pulled closer, but don’t let the onigiri fall.
Wind steadily—neither too fast nor too slow—while watching out for obstacles.
The player with more onigiri at the end wins.
You can enjoy it repeatedly by adding more obstacles on the table or making the onigiri lighter, and so on.
Bamboo Shoot Digging Game
Here’s a sit-down bamboo shoot digging game you can enjoy.
Tear up newspaper and hide bamboo shoots made from milk cartons in it.
Use a hanger to push aside the newspaper and find the bamboo shoots.
When you peel the milk carton off the bamboo shoots you’ve found, you’ll discover a daikon radish and a bamboo shoot made by wrapping items around plastic bottles.
Each item has points: daikon is 10 points and bamboo shoot is 100 points.
Compete to see how many points you can score—the highest score wins! Setting a time limit will make it even more exciting.
Number Cop
Let me introduce Number Cups, a brain-training game you can do with minimal preparation.
All you need are construction paper and paper cups.
Write the numbers 1 through 9 on both the construction paper and the paper cups, and place the construction paper on the floor or table.
At the start signal, place each paper cup on the paper with the matching number.
Because it requires comprehension and decision-making—identifying which number and where to place it—along with quick reactions, it sends plenty of stimulation to the brain.
You can expect it to help prevent cognitive decline while having fun as a game.