[For Seniors] Hand and finger play roundup: Finger exercises that lead to brain training
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.
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[For Seniors] Collection of Hand and Finger Games: Hand and Finger Exercises That Lead to Brain Training (31–40)
Full Moon Night’s Mochi Pounding
When it comes to songs perfect for moon viewing, “Jūgoya-san no Mochitsuki” comes to mind.
It’s famous as a hand-clapping game song played by two people facing each other—one pounding the mochi and the other kneading it.
Many seniors may remember gazing at the moon and playing with friends when they were children.
On the night of Otsukimi, it’s customary to display rice dumplings and pampas grass.
There’s also a legend that a rabbit lives on the moon, so wearing rabbit masks while doing the hand game is recommended.
It brings out smiles and enhances communication among seniors.
Clap Hands Rock-Paper-Scissors Exercise
Exercises with hand clapping make it easier to keep rhythm and are recommended for older adults.
In this exercise, you randomly make rock–paper–scissors shapes with both hands while continuing to clap.
It provides beneficial stimulation to the brain and supports the physical and mental health of seniors.
Because all the fingers are used, it seems likely to train each individual nerve.
It’s wonderful that with a bit of variation, rock–paper–scissors can become so many different finger exercises.
Moving with the rhythm of the clapping can help invigorate both body and mind.
Get hyped—suri-suri ton-ton!
While seated in a chair, this activity has you perform different movements with each hand on your knees.
In time with the rhythm, one open hand rubs the knee, while the other hand is closed in a fist and taps the knee.
Doing forward-and-back and up-and-down movements on opposite sides helps activate the brain and can also provide a massaging effect for the legs.
It’s also recommended to swap hand shapes and actions within the rhythm to boost quick reactions and concentration.
Once you’re comfortable with the basic movements, gradually add rules to further enhance the brain-training effect.
Song Exercise
This song exercise features only songs recommended for winter.
Snow, Campfire, and North Wind Boy Kantarō—aren’t they all nostalgic tunes you heard as a child? Here we introduce a Goo-Choki-Paa exercise you can do while singing these popular children’s songs.
It can be done seated, so it’s reassuring from a safety standpoint for older adults.
Since many movements involve using both the upper and lower body, it helps strengthen you both physically and mentally.
You can also express actions like opening and closing your hands with your fingertips, which should provide good stimulation for the brain.
Finger exercises you can do with one hand
One-handed finger exercises are highly recommended for older adults.
Simply moving each finger one by one can improve flexibility and provide good hand and finger activity.
You can incorporate various movements, such as counting on your fingers, bending and extending the fingers, and light massage, which makes it enjoyable.
It’s easy to include in daily life, so please give it a try.
You can also expect relaxation benefits, and it may improve dexterity and control of the hands.
It’s important to do them within a comfortable range, tailored to the physical and mental condition of the older adult.
For seniors: A collection of hand and finger games. Hand and finger exercises that lead to brain training (41–50)
Stacking paper cups
Here’s a cup-stacking game that boosts finger strength and concentration.
Get some paper cups and clothespins ready and have fun.
Use the clothespins to stack the paper cups.
Whoever stacks five cups before their opponent wins.
The key is the grip strength you use to open and close the clothespins while stacking.
Once you get used to it, try setting a time limit or playing in teams for an extra challenge.
It’s a game you can enjoy over and over, so give it a try!
Rock, paper, scissors in a cross
Crossed Rock-Paper-Scissors is a calisthenic exercise done with your hands crossed.
Instead of just doing rock-paper-scissors normally, you cross your hands, so it’s a workout for your brain, too.
It can be hard to do it perfectly on the first try.
By repeating it, your body will learn the movements.
There are also variations like tapping your feet while doing rock-paper-scissors, or adding hand claps, so give them a try.
They all require mental focus, so it feels like your brain gets a full workout.