Lovely senior life

[For Seniors] Hand and finger play roundup: Finger exercises that lead to brain training

Social worker / Care workermoko
My name is Moko, a mother of three who admired my mother and worked in the care industry as a care worker and as a medical social worker (MSW) in a hospital. I will be drawing on my previous experience to write mainly about caregiving. Thank you in advance.
Worked as a certified care worker for 17 years.Nanaka
I’ve been working as a certified care worker for 17 years. I’m Nanaka, a caregiving web writer. I decided to pursue this profession because I wanted a job that would help people. Having worked in day care for many years, I’ve experienced a wide variety of recreational activities. Exercise set to music, in particular, always created a cheerful atmosphere and was very well received. I’d be delighted to continue delivering writing that resonates with readers through caregiving-related articles. Thank you for your support.

For older adults, moving their hands and fingers is very important because it helps stimulate brain activity.

That’s why many senior care facilities incorporate hand and finger play as a way to help prevent dementia.

Among these activities, brain-training style hand and finger games may seem difficult at first, but they allow participants to talk and think together—saying things like “I did it!” or “How do you do this part?”—so they can enjoy the activity while engaging in communication.

There are exercises that involve different movements with the left and right hands, or moving the fingers while singing.

Please choose and adapt activities according to each older adult’s physical and mental condition.

[For Seniors] Hand and Finger Play Collection: Finger Exercises That Lead to Brain Training (11–20)

Finger training with clothespins

Grow your hair with clothespins! Finger training — Today’s brain training, care prevention, and dementia prevention

Finger training with clothespins

This activity uses clothespins to build fingertip strength and pinching motions.

You stick a large illustration onto cardboard and then attach clothespins to the illustration as if they were hair.

It’s fun because children can move their fingers while thinking about what kind of hairstyle to create.

When connecting clothespins to each other rather than just attaching them to the illustration, they need to carefully consider where to clip them, which also engages the brain.

While clothespins are commonly operated with the thumb and index finger, intentionally trying different fingers can help train finger strength more evenly.

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rainy weather

Finger Exercises - Rainfall

rainy weather

This is a finger exercise themed on the children’s song “Amefuri” (Rainfall), beloved by people of all ages.

The famous lyrics written by Hakushu Kitahara are well known to many older adults, too.

With your arms held out in front, repeatedly close and open both hands.

Next, match the lyrics and focus on hand movements that evoke a janome (bull’s-eye) umbrella.

Finally, make rock–scissors–paper shapes and alternately shake your hands.

It’s divided into three main parts, so learn them in order and try performing them along with the song.

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Finger-counting exercise with opposite hands (left and right reversed)

Finger exercises for seniors: the stimulation changes! It's fun where you can't do it!!

Finger-counting exercise with opposite hands (left and right reversed)

By deliberately taking on complex movements, you can give your brain more stimulation.

What I’d like you to try is the “opposite finger-counting exercise” with the left and right hands.

This exercise has three main actions.

First, count out loud from 1 to 10.

When you reach 10, count back down toward 1.

Meanwhile, use your right hand to count by raising fingers, and your left hand to count by folding fingers.

It may sound confusing just reading about it, but please give it a try.

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Alternating finger-counting exercise

Brain Training: Doable at Care Facilities or at Home! Finger Brain Training — Finger Counting Edition

Alternating finger-counting exercise

I’d like to introduce a finger-folding exercise that’s perfect for when you want to move your fingertips thoroughly or do some brain training.

First, place both hands open on the table.

Then, start folding your fingers one by one in order from either the left or the right.

You can do this while sitting, even in a small space.

Once you get used to it, try adding variations, such as making different movements with each hand alternately.

Start at your own pace without rushing.

And if you make a mistake, don’t worry—just keep going.

They say that making mistakes is actually effective for activating the brain.

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tea picking

So easy you can memorize it in 3 minutes! Brain-training singing exercise for seniors: “Tea Picking”

tea picking

When early summer approaches, the song that makes you want to hum along is surely “Chatsumi” (Tea Picking).

It was published in 1912 as part of the Standard Elementary School Songs for the Third Grade.

In 2007, it was also selected for the “100 Best Japanese Songs.” Listening to this tune brings to mind the beautiful season of fresh greenery and women hard at work picking tea leaves.

Many older adults may also remember playing it as a hand game when they were children.

This time, you’ll need to do three actions while singing: clapping your hands and stepping your feet.

Let’s enjoy it with a childlike sense of fun.

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Under the big chestnut tree

[Nursery Rhyme] Under the Big Chestnut Tree [Children’s Song • Hand Play] Japanese Children’s Song, Nursery Rhymes covered by UtaSta

Under the big chestnut tree

“Under the Spreading Chestnut Tree” is a children’s song based on an English folk tune.

It is said to have been sung among Boy Scouts in the United States.

It was introduced to Japan after World War II.

On the NHK TV program “Uta no Ojisan,” Masanori Tomotake sang it with accompanying actions, which led to its popularity as a hand-play song.

Because the movements are simple, older adults can learn it quickly.

It’s a charming hand-play song that uses the hands to represent a big chestnut.

Enjoy it with a childlike spirit, as if you’ve gone back to your childhood.

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[For Seniors] Collection of Hand and Finger Games: Finger Exercises That Lead to Brain Training (21–30)

Hand therapy exercises

Hand therapy exercises: for improving fingertip dexterity and maintaining/enhancing cognitive function

Hand therapy exercises

This is about moving your fingers with firm, deliberate effort so you can monitor the motion and gradually improve function.

It’s important to be mindful of performing both gripping and finger-opening movements evenly; the closer you get to evenness, the smoother your hand movements will be in daily life.

Putting strength into the movements is also a key point, as doing so not only improves finger function but also promotes circulation and activates the brain.

It’s also recommended to use this to identify any movements that aren’t smooth, then focus on improving those areas in particular.

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