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[For Seniors] A Fun Sports Day! Recreational Activities You Can Do Safely

In spring and autumn, many senior care facilities, such as day service centers, hold sports festivals.

Because residents have a wide range of physical conditions, we recommend sports day activities that everyone can enjoy together.

This article introduces sports festival recreation ideas tailored for senior care facilities.

Choose activities that prioritize safety so everyone can have fun, while also promoting physical and mental stimulation.

We’ve also included seated activities so that wheelchair users can participate easily.

We hope you find this helpful.

[For Seniors] Fun Sports Day! Recreational Activities That Can Be Done Safely (21–30)

Target shooting game

In simple terms, the target-throwing game is like “Struck Out.” You write point values on pieces of paper, arrange them, and throw a ball at them.

You could also use beanbags instead of balls.

This game can be played either sitting or standing, so anyone can enjoy it.

Because you have to throw accurately at the targets, it improves concentration and engages the upper-body muscles.

It’s an ideal recreational activity for older adults, and it’s a sport that onlookers can get excited about and enjoy together.

Please give it a try.

Aiming at the balloon

Today's activity at Day Service Asumiru!
Aiming at the balloon

In this game, you throw a ball at balloons and try to hit them.

Because it can be played while seated, people with leg difficulties or those using wheelchairs can easily participate.

Of course, it’s also fun to play standing.

Aiming at balloons as targets helps improve concentration, and the act of throwing the ball provides good exercise by engaging the hand and arm muscles.

It contributes to the physical and mental well-being of older adults.

It also gets lively when played with a large group, so be sure to try team competitions.

[For Seniors] A Fun Sports Day! Recreational Activities That Can Be Done Safely (31–40)

Newspaper ball rolling relay

Two-person teamwork, everyone teamwork: 'Newspaper Ball Rolling Relay'
Newspaper ball rolling relay

This is a recreation activity where you compete to see how fast you can roll a ball placed on a sheet of newspaper.

It’s suitable for small to large groups, so it’s also recommended for situations where you want to promote interaction among older adults.

Arrange chairs facing each other in alternating rows, and have two people hold the ends of a sheet of newspaper.

Roll the ball you’re given onto the next person’s newspaper, and if it makes it into the basket, that’s a goal.

You can enjoy variety by rolling different types of balls, such as a regular ball, beanbags, or a beach ball.

Give this event a try to experience the fun and sense of unity that comes from doing an activity together.

balloon volleyball

Sometimes balloon volleyball is nice too, isn’t it?
balloon volleyball

Volleyball is a popular sport in Japan as well, so most people probably know the rules.

Here is an adapted version that even older adults can enjoy.

You stay seated in a chair and use a balloon instead of a ball, so even those who find it difficult to stand and move can enjoy playing volleyball with peace of mind.

Capsule Korokoro

This gets everyone super hyped ⬆️ The capsule rolls around~ 🤣 #seniorActivities #brainTraining #miniGame #shorts #dayService
Capsule Korokoro

You’ve probably seen capsule toy machines filled with toys and merchandise at arcades or supermarkets.

Let’s use those round capsules to play a lively game.

Attach a stick to an empty tissue box and use it to roll a capsule across a table.

The goal is to land the capsule in a target without letting it fall off the table.

To make the game even more fun, create gaps between the targets.

Placing the capsule without dropping it into the gaps is a great way for older adults to show their skill.

Cheering on the players and calling out to them can spark interaction with the people around them, too.

Casual Ball Curling

[Easy-to-prepare and exciting recreation] [Day service activity] Simple circle-style ball curling
Casual Ball Curling

Curling became well-known through the Winter Olympics, so many of you may already be familiar with it.

It’s a team game where you compete to see which team can get their balls closer to the center ball.

Preparing this recreation is as simple as getting a few balls ready.

That’s all it takes to create a fun activity that helps participants interact more with each other.

Since it can be played while seated, it’s also appealing because it can be enjoyed in a way that suits the physical and mental conditions of older adults.

Newspaper Stick Holder

Recreation for seniors: super simple, exciting, and fun newspaper stick-in game
Newspaper Stick Holder

Think back to your school sports day—chances are you enjoyed the “tamaire” (beanbag toss) event once or twice.

The activity introduced here, “Newspaper Stick Toss,” is a variation of that game.

What you’ll need is a target made from milk cartons: cut off the spouts and attach about nine cartons together to create the target.

Then, participants throw rolled-up newspaper sticks at the target.

Sticks made from newspaper about 15 cm long work well; about pencil thickness makes them easy to throw.

Set your own rules—like a time attack or taking turns one throw at a time—and have fun!