Hand games that liven things up for seniors—also great brain training

Mackerel and Spanish mackerel: a game where you only take the cards with the same kanji

Card battling game, two types, elderly people, recreation, day service, rec activities, caregiving, indoor game, party, game

If you want to train your visual discrimination, try this! Here’s a game where you only grab cards with the same kanji.

First, write two similar-looking kanji—such as 鯖 and 鰆—on cards, making sure each one appears the same number of times.

When the game begins, one person quickly gathers all the mackerel (saba) cards, while the other quickly gathers all the Spanish mackerel (sawara) cards.

The player who gathers all of their cards first wins.

Because you have to instantly tell apart similar shapes, it naturally boosts fine visual recognition, and it also seems to improve concentration and decision-making.

It’s fun to include a variety of kanji, symbols, or pictures, too.

Give it a try for inspiration!

Okonomiyaki Game

Recreation for seniors: Okonomiyaki game

Let me introduce an okonomiyaki game that’s guaranteed to get everyone excited.

Cut cardboard into circles, stick on printed okonomiyaki designs, and make about 20 okonomiyaki pieces.

The thickness of the cardboard is up to you, but if it’s too thin, flipping them might be a bit harder.

Once you spread the 20 okonomiyaki pieces out on a table, the game begins.

Use a spatula to flip the okonomiyaki one by one.

Time yourself, and when you’ve flipped them all, you’re done.

The challenge is how many seconds it takes to flip all 20! It’s great brain exercise too—highly recommended.

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Bamboo Shoot Digging Game

[New Idea] Bamboo Shoot Digging Game

Here’s a sit-down bamboo shoot digging game you can enjoy.

Tear up newspaper and hide bamboo shoots made from milk cartons in it.

Use a hanger to push aside the newspaper and find the bamboo shoots.

When you peel the milk carton off the bamboo shoots you’ve found, you’ll discover a daikon radish and a bamboo shoot made by wrapping items around plastic bottles.

Each item has points: daikon is 10 points and bamboo shoot is 100 points.

Compete to see how many points you can score—the highest score wins! Setting a time limit will make it even more exciting.

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Put the ping-pong ball in

[Elderly Recreation] Get the Ping-Pong Ball into the Cup! #DayService #Recreation #shorts

In elderly care facilities and similar settings, recreation is held every day, but preparing large-scale activities can be a lot of work.

This time, we’d like to introduce a simple and fun activity you can play with everyday items: the “Ping-Pong Ball Toss Game.” Set up walls on both sides of a table using empty tissue boxes, and place paper cups on the table.

Have participants throw ping-pong balls and try to land them in the cups.

If you write point values on the cups and make it a scoring competition, spectators can join in the excitement and everyone will have fun together.

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playing rock-paper-scissors after seeing the opponent’s move (i.e., acting with hindsight/cheating)

[Brain Training] Brain Exercise Gymnastics for Seniors! After-the-Fact Rock-Paper-Scissors [Mental Workout]

Aft-hand rock-paper-scissors is a recreation where you throw your hand in response to the already-shown hand according to the instruction “win,” “lose,” or “tie.” Because it’s an arrangement of a game everyone knows, it’s simple enough for anyone to join, yet it also serves as brain training that requires split-second judgment and quick hand movements.

You can also add various rules like “win with your right hand” or “lose with your left hand,” so you can keep it interesting without getting bored.

It can be played anywhere, so it’s highly recommended.

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Chestnut Picking Game

Chestnut Picking Game #dayservice #recreation #chestnutpicking #game #elderly

Let me introduce the Chestnut-Picking Game, a fun way to help with arm rehabilitation.

Make ring shapes out of construction paper in the shape of chestnuts and write point values on them.

You can also make maple and ginkgo leaves to set the mood.

Once you place everything in a cardboard box, you’re ready to go.

Use a cane to pick up the chestnuts and compete based on the points of the ones you collect.

Once everyone gets used to it, add a time limit, such as finishing within 30 seconds, or rules like making the last chestnut worth double points to keep it feeling fresh and exciting.

It can be enjoyed while sitting in a chair or using just one hand, so it’s recommended as a recreational activity at senior care facilities.

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Music Therapy Handbell Concert

Senior recreation: music therapy handbell concert❣️

Let me introduce music therapy using handbells.

In handbell ensembles, each person is responsible for specific notes on the scale, which actually requires a lot of concentration.

Even with familiar children’s songs, you need to remember exactly when to play your note.

The timing is important, and you also have to adjust the volume with your arm movements.

Because this sends a lot of stimulation to the brain, it can be expected to have brain-training effects.

In addition, since it is often done in groups, it naturally fosters interaction among participants, and the sense of accomplishment when it all comes together is exceptional.

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