Lovely senior life

For seniors: Recommended for day services. Hands-on activities that help prevent dementia.

Social worker / Care workermoko
My name is Moko, a mother of three who admired my mother and worked in the care industry as a care worker and as a medical social worker (MSW) in a hospital. I will be drawing on my previous experience to write mainly about caregiving. Thank you in advance.
Worked as a certified care worker for 17 years.Nanaka
I’ve been working as a certified care worker for 17 years. I’m Nanaka, a caregiving web writer. I decided to pursue this profession because I wanted a job that would help people. Having worked in day care for many years, I’ve experienced a wide variety of recreational activities. Exercise set to music, in particular, always created a cheerful atmosphere and was very well received. I’d be delighted to continue delivering writing that resonates with readers through caregiving-related articles. Thank you for your support.

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.

[For Seniors] Recommended for day service: Hands-on activities (31–40) that help prevent dementia

The Itomaki (Spool Winding) Song Using Rubber Bands

The Itomaki Song using rubber bands [An exercise activity for seniors!]

The Itomaki (Spool Winding) Song Using Rubber Bands

This exercise aims to make finger movements smoother by stretching a rubber band with both hands and moving it from finger to finger.

Maintaining strength is important to keep the band well stretched, so sustaining effort while moving adds complexity that also helps stimulate the brain.

If you coordinate the movement of shifting the rubber band with a song—such as the children’s song “Ito Maki”—and proceed rhythmically, it will further improve smoothness.

We also recommend starting with patterns that move the band to the same finger on both hands, then gradually shifting the positions to make the patterns more complex over time.

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Plastic bottles and clothespins

Recreation, caregiving, plastic bottles and clothespins, finger rehabilitation, older adults

Plastic bottles and clothespins

This is a game where you clip clothespins onto the mouth of a plastic bottle and compete to see how many you can connect within a time limit.

Because the rules are simple, quick movements are crucial, and it also helps train finger strength and fine motor skills.

There’s also an important rule that if the chain of clothespins bends in the middle, it doesn’t count, which encourages players to think about how to attach each one.

Precisely because speed is tested, the game can help develop delicate fingertip control for placing clips in the optimal positions, as well as the focus needed to judge where to attach them.

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Onigiri Game

Onigiri game #care #carehome #carefacility #recreation #rec #elderly #dayservice #Asokaen #KitasunaHome #game #onigiri

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.

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Exercise collection specialized in improving hand and finger movements

A collection of exercises focused on improving hand and finger movements!!

Exercise collection specialized in improving hand and finger movements

This is an exercise where you perform various finger movements in sequence, checking how your fingers move while aiming for smoother motion.

The routine progresses from overall movements to examining each finger’s motion one by one, gradually becoming more complex, which can also be expected to stimulate the brain.

If you find a movement that doesn’t go as you intend, focus on that one to work toward improving your finger control.

It’s also recommended to do the exercises to the rhythm of a children’s song or similar music, as it helps you keep time while you practice.

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Ghost Scooping Game

Ghost Scooping Game - Day Service Recreation

Ghost Scooping Game

Here’s a game that treats plastic bags like little ghosts.

Have older adults sit in chairs and use a stick made from newspaper to scoop up plastic bags placed on the floor.

Then have them place the scooped bags into a bowl set on the chair.

This game helps strengthen the biceps on the front of the upper arm.

It’s perfect for people who find it difficult to bring food to their mouth with a spoon, too.

Since it uses familiar items, it’s easy to do in short breaks.

Because they’re “ghosts,” it could be fun to add eyes and a mouth to the plastic bags.

It’s also great as a Halloween-season activity.

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[For Seniors] Recommended for Day Service: Handicraft Activities That Help Prevent Dementia (41–50)

Get it with dice

Elderly Recreation: 3 Fun and Easy Dice Games Using 100-Yen Store Daiso Items #RecreationForSeniors #100YenShop #Daiso #Fun

Get it with dice

Here’s a dice game you can enjoy using items from a 100-yen shop.

All you need are a die, some balls, and three baskets.

Put the balls into one of the baskets, then place one basket for yourself and one for your opponent—now you’re ready! Take turns rolling the die and move the number of balls shown into your own basket.

Continue until there are no balls left.

The player with the most balls at the end wins.

Because luck plays a big role, differences in ability are minimized, so anyone can enjoy it.

Rolling the die and picking up the balls also serve as upper-limb functional training, and counting the numbers can provide cognitive training benefits.

Give it a try!

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Pastel art

Pastel art drawn with your fingers. Here’s an easy way to draw Mt. Fuji! Enjoy it with kids or use it for activities at senior facilities! You can get pastels at DAISO. #Shorts

Pastel art

Let’s use soft pastel tones to complete a beautiful picture.

By skillfully using templates and layering shapes, you can create distinctive gradients—the most striking feature of pastel art.

Since the main process involves rubbing with your fingers, it requires few tools and also serves as a bit of finger exercise.

Even if you’re not confident in drawing, you can easily create art just by layering shapes and colors.

Because the steps are so simple, this makes for a recreation activity that many people can enjoy.

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