In senior care facilities and day service centers, there are people with a wide range of needs.
Therefore, it’s important to plan recreational activities that match each older adult’s condition.
This time, we’ll introduce recommended recreational activities for seniors with dementia.
For older adults with dementia, emotional support—such as helping them “feel enjoyment” and “find their place”—is essential.
Activities that are easy to try and encourage interaction among participants are also recommended.
Use this article as a reference when planning recreation for seniors with dementia.
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Recommended Recreational Activities for Older Adults with Dementia (1–10)
riddle
These are riddles for recreation.
When you have a little extra time but no materials prepared, riddles are perfect.
They’re easy for people with dementia to try, and clever, witty questions are sure to spark laughter.
While watching a video on a smartphone, read the questions aloud into the microphone.
The answers will appear in 15 seconds, helping to train decision-making skills.
Finger exercises for dementia prevention
The scientific basis for piano being a standard extracurricular activity for children is that moving the fingers stimulates the brain.
This doesn’t apply only to children—it also holds true for adults and the elderly, which is why finger-based recreational activities are frequently used in caregiving settings.
This “Finger Exercises for Dementia Prevention” is one such finger-focused recreation that can be enjoyed in a setup with a quizmaster and other participants.
Even when mistakes are made, everyone can laugh and have fun together, making it both brain training and a source of cheerful energy.
Onigiri Concentration
Many people have probably played Concentration (also known as Memory), where you flip over face-down cards and try to match pairs with the same picture.
This game is a twist on that classic, using cards featuring familiar onigiri fillings.
The rules are the same as with playing cards: you remember which cards are revealed on your turn and your opponent’s, aiming to make matches.
Because the theme—onigiri fillings—is so familiar, you can casually boost your memory by connecting it with your own taste memories and experiences.
origami
Origami is easy to incorporate because the only thing you need is origami paper, making it a familiar and accessible activity for older adults as well.
Even though we say “origami” in a single word, there are many ways to enjoy it—from very simple models you can fold right away to complex, three-dimensional creations.
By thinking through the order of the steps and using fine finger movements, you can also expect brain-training benefits, making it effective for people with dementia.
We also recommend displaying the finished pieces on the wall.
Fishing game
A fishing game is great for day-service recreation: for those with fishing experience, it’s a chance to reminisce, and for those without, it offers a sense of achievement.
Its simplicity—using a rod with a magnet to catch fish with paper clips—is also part of the appeal.
You can even choose fish that are in season at the time! Of course, starting from making the fish out of construction paper encourages interaction among participants.
karuta (traditional Japanese playing cards)
Karuta is a game where you listen to the reading cards and compete to grab the picture cards.
It’s recommended for people with dementia because it stimulates hearing and sight.
When playing with a large group, commercially available karuta sets may be a bit small, so it could be fun to make your own sets together, such as a “Popular Songs Karuta” or a “National Travel Karuta.” Karuta used to be a classic New Year’s pastime, and many older adults likely have one or two memories connected to it.
It would be wonderful to enjoy karuta along with those memories and the conversations they bring.
Karaoke Contest
Karaoke recreation can make you feel nostalgic as you remember songs that were popular in the past.
Also, when staff dress up in costumes and perform songs and dances, you get to see something out of the ordinary, which can lift your mood.
Enjoying the dazzling costumes and singing lets you immerse yourself in a different world from everyday life, helping to relieve stress.
And by singing together with everyone, you can create a sense of unity and spend an enjoyable time!
