For Seniors: December Health Topics — Winter Recreational Activities to Warm the Body and the Heart

Making next year’s calendar

[Calendar Making] A classic event at our day service. We choose a seasonal theme and create next month’s calendar. (Shōwa Wago-kai Social Welfare Corporation)

Making next year’s calendar is a wonderful recreational activity that warms the hearts of older adults.

By using torn-paper collage, they can move their fingers while nurturing creativity.

The process of creating a one-of-a-kind calendar with familiar materials such as newspapers, magazines, and colored paper is very enjoyable.

Choosing materials and pasting them also helps improve concentration.

Seeing the finished calendar will bring a sense of accomplishment.

Each person can work at their own pace, so it’s easy to enjoy without strain.

Even in the cold season, this activity will warm both body and mind.

Kōhaku Uta Gassen (NHK New Year’s Eve “Red and White Song Battle”)

Annual tradition! Hilarious! Heartwarming! Red and White Singing Contest at the day service♪

In a season when we spend more time indoors, incorporating the Red and White Song Battle as a recreational activity is a wonderful idea.

Singing deepens breathing and helps maintain cardiopulmonary function, and collaborative activities like singing together and clapping promote communication and sociability.

In particular, belting out songs can lift the spirits and is great for stress relief.

When older adults choose songs themselves, move their bodies to the rhythm, and enjoy cheering each other on, the atmosphere brightens.

A room filled with warm interactions and laughter through the power of music will make you forget the cold outside, if only for a while.

New Year’s decoration making

[Senior Recreation] Easy New Year’s Shimenawa Wreath Using Newspaper [Craft/DIY] New Year decoration

Among New Year’s decorations, making a shimenawa wreath using newspaper is especially recommended.

Roll up newspaper to form a wreath shape, then wrap it with layers of origami or crepe sheets.

Create the fan portion and attach it to finish.

Choosing materials and doing the steps provides hand exercise and brain training.

It also brings a sense of the season, and you can enjoy a feeling of accomplishment when it’s done.

For older adults who may find using scissors difficult, it’s helpful to pre-cut the materials.

Let’s have fun making them together and enjoy the lovely decorations.

Winter Wonderland

Elderly, exercise, song exercise, recreation, music, Winter Wonderland #exerciseDance #children’sSong #nursingCare #welfare #careManager #caseManager #Christmas #ChristmasSong

One of the Christmas songs that seem to be heard from out of nowhere when winter comes is “Winter Wonderland.” Its bright sound and lively rhythm create a cheerful, exciting atmosphere.

Although the song originated in the United States, it has been translated into various languages and is sung all around the world.

Even if you remain seated, moving your upper body broadly or stepping your feet can serve as a stretch and a moderate amount of exercise, so I recommend it.

I think it’s a song that even older adults are familiar with, so why not include it in your Christmas recreation activities?

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hamada Takuya

Report a problem

Discost Santa

19871 Christmas Party Game Disk Toss Santa

It’s a game where you throw discs aiming for Santa Claus’s mouth drawn on a board.

When drawing Santa on the board, cut a hole where his mouth is.

Players throw circular, disc-shaped pieces of cardboard into the mouth hole.

It’s an easy recreational activity that even older adults, who may have less strength, can enjoy while seated!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

SAKI

Report a problem

Matching game

[Christmas Rec] Picture-Matching Game! How fast can you do it? [Care Recreation] [Kids Recreation]

Here’s a “matching picture game” that’s perfect for Christmas recreation at senior care facilities.

All you need are paper, paper cups, and pens, so it’s easy to try.

First, draw Christmas motifs—like Santa or fir trees—on the bottoms of the paper cups.

It can be fun to draw them together with the seniors! Next, prepare a sheet of white paper with a grid, and draw the same images on the grid that you drew on the cups.

The game is simple: find the picture on the grid that matches the one on the cup and place the cup on it.

Try adding elements like a time limit to make it more game-like and exciting!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

miyabi

Report a problem

Snowball Volleyball with Balloons

Everyone’s favorite balloon volleyball ★ Nenrin House Saitodai

It’s a volleyball-like game where you hit balloons coming toward you back into the opponent’s court.

Since it’s played in teams while seated, the key point is that it doesn’t put strain on the legs and lower back.

To incorporate it into a Christmas party, try using white balloons that evoke snowballs and decorating around the net with Christmas ornaments to enhance the festive atmosphere.

Because players look up to send the balloon over the net, it encourages extending the back and moving the body.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

kappamaki

Report a problem