Recreation Activities Effective for Long-Term Care Prevention for Seniors

cardboard crafts

“You’re throwing that away?” Easy cardboard activities that cost almost nothing to prepare or for materials [Senior Recreation / Day Service]

How about a fall-prevention recreation activity using cardboard? Build a tower with plastic bottles and cardboard boxes of various sizes.

Then, place beanbags on the tower so it won’t fall.

Thinking about where to place them to keep the tower balanced will help with brain training.

Because you need to place them gently, it also exercises fine motor skills and helps improve concentration and spatial awareness.

You can have individuals take turns placing beanbags, or form teams and compete to see who can place the most—both sound fun.

Please make use of this activity, which is also helpful for communicating with other older adults!

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moko

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Two simultaneous balloon volleyballs

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Balloon volleyballArc CareCaregivingNursing care facilityTranslationHome-visit nursingRehabilitationCertified Care WorkerNursePhysical therapistCare Manager#GambaLoopFun workplaceStaff RecruitmentNursing Small-Scale Multifunctional In-Home CareCompany IntroductionBusiness Office Introduction#Okayama PrefectureTamano CityKokoyui

♬ Old Disney Swing Jazz – Nico

Let’s try balloon volleyball using two balloons.

Start by playing with one balloon, then introduce a second one partway through.

Having to keep track of the extra balloon may help stimulate the brain.

Adding a second balloon increases the difficulty compared to just one, which could make it more exciting for older adults as well.

You might even see great plays, like returning both balloons in succession.

You can also split into two teams and compete like in real volleyball for an enjoyable game.

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Nakajima Junko

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Bikubarun Valley

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We'll keep going with a 'Big Balloon Volley'—toss and continue! 🏐#BarunValley#BalloonVolleyballBig balloonOasis Day Service CenterFunctional Training “Big Balloon Volleyball” continues to toss 🏐

♬ original sound – BeardMusicStock – BeardMusicStock

Volleyball using a bigger balloon than a regular one is really exciting, isn’t it? Older adults will probably see the big balloon and think, “Wow, that’s huge!” By calling out to each other to keep the rally going and helping toss the big balloon, everyone can cooperate more, which may increase interaction among participants.

Placing a table in the center makes it easier to keep the rally going.

Since big-balloon volleyball sometimes uses both hands, it also helps move the body in a well-balanced way on the left and right.

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Nakajima Junko

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Shiritori Card Game

Shiritori Card Game

Haven’t many older adults played shiritori at least once? Here’s a familiar shiritori-style card game for seniors.

Prepare cards with each of the 50 Japanese syllables written on them, and deal five cards to each player.

Place the remaining cards in the center and draw one card to start.

Think of a word that begins with the syllable of the drawn card, so that the last letter of your chosen word matches one of the cards in your hand.

Adding a rule like “use three-letter words” makes it even more fun and can help stimulate the brain.

The first person to use up all their cards wins.

Let’s all enjoy thinking of words together while we play.

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Nakajima Junko

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Finger exercises with plastic bottle caps

Eliminate boredom! A senior recreation activity using plastic bottle caps that also promotes finger exercises #shorts #braintraining #dayservice

Here’s a recreational activity you can make using the many plastic bottle caps that tend to pile up.

Place the caps on a base sheet, matching each cap with the same kanji written on the sheet, making sure not to make mistakes.

Kanji sets that are hard to distinguish—like the fish or tree radicals series—are recommended.

Because players identify the characters while pinching the caps with their fingers, it trains both the brain and fine motor skills.

Give it a try—make it and play with it! You could also turn it into a game by pairing addition problems with their answers.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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OK finger exercise

‘You Can Prevent Dementia with the OK Finger Exercise!’ Devised and demonstrated by Dr. Tōtarō Takeuchi, Director of the Health Management Center at Saitama Seikeikai Hospital

Consciously moving your fingers helps activate the brain, improve circulation, and support smoother daily life.

This simple exercise strengthens and improves finger movement by intentionally engaging your fingers.

You’ll alternately perform a clenching-and-opening motion and a wrist-twisting motion, while also checking that you’re moving properly.

It’s also recommended to do the same with your toes, not just your hands, to help promote circulation throughout your entire body.

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kappamaki

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Rhythmic gymnastics with a ball

Perfect for the coming season! Full-body warming rhythmic exercises using a ball [Senior Exercise]

Let’s use a ball to move the whole body and warm up.

It’s also great as an exercise for the cold season.

Sit on a chair, bounce the ball on your knees, and open your arms while holding the ball.

Let’s also add a brain-training element.

Bounce it on your knees, then raise one hand high holding the ball, and from there, grasp the ball with both hands at chest height.

Some people may find it hard to think and move the ball at the same time, but it’s said that feeling challenged helps activate the brain.

Try to gently push yourself—like making the movements larger or doing more dynamic ball exercises—within a comfortable range.

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Nakajima Junko

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