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

Temari making

Make it by wrapping yarn! Adorably round “Easy Temari” / [OT’s Let’s Make It! Vol. 9] (Recreation/Crafts)

Temari making

This is about making a cute temari ball characterized by a soft look using yarn.

First, crumple newspaper or other paper into a ball, then secure it with tape to form a sphere.

Next, wrap rubber bands around the sphere as guides, and wind yarn along those guides.

A key point for a beautiful result is to wrap the yarn firmly so the paper base doesn’t show.

Combining multiple colors, rather than using just one, enhances the temari’s feel, so choosing the yarn is important.

Since the craft involves winding yarn, it’s an activity that naturally focuses attention on coordinated hand movements.

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Persimmon Picking Game

Persimmon-picking game #dayservice #elderly #recreation #autumn #game #elderlycare

Persimmon Picking Game

It may look like you’re just using your hands to pick persimmons, but in fact there are points written on the back.

You can’t see the points while you’re picking, and only find out afterward—that’s what makes this “Persimmon Picking Game” fun.

Since there’s a time limit, you can enjoy deciding whether to aim for persimmons you predict will be high-scoring or to pick as many as possible.

If you yank in a hurry, the persimmons get caught on the pins, so the key is to use your fingertips to unhook them from the pins.

Because there’s an element of luck, there are fewer issues of aptitude or skill differences between players, and anyone can enjoy it.

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Makimaki Apple Game

Let's do this for tomorrow's recreation! It gets everyone excited at the day service! The Maki-Maki Rinko Game 🍎 #dayservice #elderly #elderlyrecreation #seniors #recreation #caregiving #preventivecare #braintraining #dementiaprevention #dementia #shorts

Makimaki Apple Game

Let me introduce a recreation activity that makes great use of the hands and wrists: the Rolling Apple Game.

Attach a stick to a sheet of paper with tape, and place an apple on the paper.

Your goal is to bring the apple to your feet using only the motion of winding the stick—pulling is not allowed, so the winding action is key.

You need to use your fingertips and wrists, and if you wind too fast the apple will fall off, so you must decide whether to prioritize speed or focus on keeping the apple from falling.

Watching the apple make its way toward you is fun in itself, so spectators can’t help but cheer.

It’s enjoyable while also training the fingers and hands, making it a great recommendation for recreational activities in senior facilities.

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Ping-pong ball catcher

[Mini-Game] Pinball Catcher #dayservice #olderadults #recreation #rehabilitation #caregiving #carefacility

Ping-pong ball catcher

Let me introduce a game called Pinball Catcher, which lets you do foot rehabilitation while having fun.

Prepare a table set at an angle, add walls on both sides, and place obstacles on the table using disposable containers or similar items.

Once the participants have nets attached to their feet, you’re ready to go.

Roll a ping-pong ball from the top of the table.

Predict the ball’s path as it bounces off obstacles, and catch it with the net attached to your foot.

Because you have to move your feet while watching where the ball will drop, it makes for great foot training.

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Finger-knitted acrylic scrubber

Easy even for beginners! You can make an eco-friendly scrubber with finger knitting.

Finger-knitted acrylic scrubber

Finger-knitted acrylic scrubbies are an easy craft idea that uses readily available acrylic yarn.

Their soft feel and colorful look make them appealing, and they’re also highly practical—they clean well and dry quickly.

Since the process involves hooking the yarn with your fingers as you knit, it’s perfect for finger exercises, and the fine motor movements can even provide brain-training benefits.

By experimenting with colors and shapes, you can create your own unique designs, and sharing the finished pieces with one another can turn the activity into a great opportunity for communication.

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

Daruma making

#elderly #day_service_recreation #activities_for_seniors #senior_recreation #craft_making #easy_crafts #daruma_made_of_clay #senior_facility

Daruma making

This is a simple craft where you make a Daruma mascot using paper clay.

A fun point is that everyone can express their individuality by freely deciding the design.

The step of rolling the paper clay is important—it draws attention to the two-handed rolling motion and how to apply pressure.

After that, just paint the dried paper clay and you’re done.

Since you’ll be adding designs to a small sphere, focus on delicate finger movements and concentration to complete your own unique Daruma.

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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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