Recreation Activities Effective for Long-Term Care Prevention for Seniors
This article introduces recommended recreational activities for preventing the need for long-term care.
We’ve gathered a wide range of options, including exercises and games that move the hands and feet, as well as quizzes that engage the mind.
Doing recreational activities is effective for physical rehabilitation and dementia prevention.
You can also expect benefits like increased appetite and improved sleep quality as your activity level rises.
It’s also a great opportunity to interact with other older adults who are participating.
Please use this article as a reference and enjoyably put it to use for care prevention.
[For Older Adults] Recreational Activities Effective for Preventing the Need for Care (1–10)
lacrosse shotNEW!
Catch the beanbag thrown by the staff with a racket, then throw it toward the small plastic pool and try to get it in.
In regular lacrosse shooting, speed is important, but here the goal is to land it in the pool, so focus on control.
Decide on the number of balls and see how many you can get in.
You can play this game while seated, and it helps strengthen your arm muscles and core, making it perfect for a bit of light indoor exercise.
Sugoroku gameNEW!
Let’s get moving and loosen up bodies that tend to stiffen in the cold while enjoying a game of sugoroku! This handmade sugoroku board has instructions in each space, such as “march in place 15 times,” “lift your toes 20 times,” and “juggle a beanbag 10 times.” Have older adults roll the die and do what’s written in the space they land on.
No matter where they land, they’ll get moderate physical activity, making it a great way to combat lack of exercise.
When you actually make this sugoroku, be sure to write activities in the spaces that can be done while seated in a chair.
YogaNEW!
Yoga is said to help balance the mind and body, strengthen the core, and reduce stress.
Since it involves relatively few strenuous movements, it may be an activity that even older adults can easily try.
Many seniors are familiar with it, so let’s play some music and strike yoga poses together.
By moving slowly and relaxing, you can exercise your body comfortably and feel refreshed.
Doing it while seated in a chair also makes it easier for seniors who find standing difficult to participate in yoga.
Rhythmic Exercise – Flag Edition –NEW!
Move the flags to the music and try lifting your feet and tapping your shoes, like tap dance.
Learning the choreography might be challenging.
Seniors will likely feel a sense of accomplishment from synchronized movements—such as flags raised overhead and shoes tapping in the same rhythm.
Being able to dance may also make them feel more lively.
This is an exercise you can do while seated, moving both the upper and lower body even from a chair.
The more participants there are, the more interaction will grow.
It also seems helpful for promoting communication.
Towel exercisesNEW!
Something found in every home and every senior facility, and used every day—yes, a towel.
Let’s try some easy exercises using a towel.
First, hold it with both hands and raise it overhead—you can really feel your shoulders and back stretch.
Holding it behind your back and doing a scrubbing motion like washing your back in the bath is also great for loosening the muscles around the shoulder blades.
If you’re still feeling spry, loop the towel around the soles of your feet to straighten your legs, or use it to stretch your arm muscles.
Try different sizes and weights—hand towels, bath towels, and more!
Intro QuizNEW!
https://www.tiktok.com/@tidakukuru/video/7367386562134347009In this “Intro-don” game, the intro is played on the piano, and players listen and slap the card bearing the song title, like in karuta, to claim it.
It’s a game you can’t win without listening skills, judgment, and quick reflexes.
However, it might also be good training for older adults.
Since karuta is a timeless, beloved game that everyone gets absorbed in, this version is sure to spark some heated battles.
Until you get used to it, try playing in a small group, like two against one!
Intro quiz for seniorsNEW!
Let’s enjoy an intro quiz with Showa-era hit songs! This version is for beginners, and about 15 seconds of the intro will play.
If you know the answer, please say the song title.
There are 30 questions, so you can enjoy it as a recreational activity.
Thinking about which song it is makes for good brain training, and the nostalgic intros make it a perfect game for seniors.
It’s also a chance to test your knowledge and memory, so give it a try!