For seniors: Recommended for day services. Hands-on activities that help prevent dementia.
As we age, our muscle strength declines, making fine, hands-on tasks more difficult.
Because the nerves in our hands are connected to the brain, it’s said that moving our hands can help prevent dementia.
In this article, we introduce hands-on recreational activities for day service programs that train both the fingers and the brain.
With a focus on craft-based activities and finger-use games, they also help improve concentration.
Craft activities let participants enjoy the fun of creating, too.
There are many ideas to choose from, so try starting with the hands-on activities you’re most interested in.
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[For Seniors] Recommended for Day Service: Hands-on Activities (91–100) That Help Prevent Dementia
Recommended for recreation! Tong catch
It’s a game where you skillfully use tongs to move ping-pong balls from a box in front of you to a basket at hand.
If you play it as a head-to-head match facing your opponent, it encourages not only precise tong control but also speed.
It might also be good to vary the shape and size of the tongs, creating a pattern where players think about how much force to apply as they move.
Because the task of moving the balls is so simple, it’s easy to tweak the tools you use.
Try coming up with variations that focus on the body parts you want to train and the way you apply force.
origami
Origami, which involves creating shapes by folding paper, draws attention to delicate finger movements through actions like making fine creases.
Depending on the task, the steps can become quite detailed, so it also helps develop focus at the same time.
With classic models, some people may end up folding by feel alone, so it’s a good idea to prepare a variety of assignments to encourage mindful attention to each step.
Projects that can be enjoyed even after completion—like a top that spins well—can also prompt learners to think about adjustments, such as how to make it spin more easily.
[For Seniors] Recommended for Day Service: Hands-on Activities for Dementia Prevention (101–110)
Flower keychain
Let’s weave the yarn threaded through the keychain part and shape it into a flower.
Using not only yarn but also thicker materials like colored cords is recommended, as they offer different design possibilities and make your hands easier to see while working.
It’s a simple process: layer yarn of a different color over the yarn threaded through the part’s hole and braid it while paying attention to the order.
Be particular about your choices of colors and materials and how you layer them, and create your own unique design.
The way you tighten the layered yarn will also change the overall look, so it could be fun to try various patterns.
picking up (food) with chopsticks by stabbing/spearing it
It’s a simple activity where you use chopsticks to pick up small sponges and move them.
Because it’s a game that uses everyday actions, it might also help you go about your daily life more smoothly.
Focus on speed as you transfer the sponge onto a plate, then move it to another plate.
If you add a step where you place it into a small container instead of just plates, you can further train more precise finger movements.
Once you’re used to moving the sponge, it’s also recommended to switch to harder-to-grab items like small pieces of wood and give it a try.
newspaper
By adding simple actions to something familiar like a newspaper, this activity helps develop smooth hand movements and fingertip strength.
Because the tasks break down everyday motions into finer components, they may also lead to smoother daily living.
First is an exercise of folding the newspaper into progressively smaller pieces; as it gets smaller, the hands and fingertips are strengthened.
Next is an exercise of tearing the newspaper into long, thin strips; to make them as slender as possible, precise fingertip movements and focused attention on your hands are important.
Precisely because it uses something close at hand, it offers an easy way to train your fingertips.
paper quilling
It’s a craft where you roll thin strips of paper to make parts, then combine those parts to create a design.
It’s important to have a clear image of the final design and make parts that match it.
The main task is wrapping the paper around a toothpick, so it’s simple yet lets you focus closely on your hands.
The process of making the parts is straightforward, so once you get used to it, you can carry on while chatting, which might also help stimulate the brain by doing two things at once.
paper flower
This is a lavender-inspired paper flower that you can make simply by cutting slits in paper and rolling it up.
A key step is folding the paper in half and making fine cuts along the edge, and by repeating these delicate tasks, you can enhance your concentration.
In addition to cutting the slits, wrapping the paper around wire to form the stem is also a detailed process, so it’s important to keep your fingertips focused throughout.
Imagining the softness of the flower while maintaining fingertip focus is the key to creating a beautiful finished piece.