For Seniors: Fun and Lively Exercise Recreation
Doesn’t a natural smile come to your face when you move along to nostalgic children’s songs and traditional tunes? A popular choice for recreation in senior care facilities is fun exercises that incorporate these familiar songs.
With easy movements you can enjoy while seated and simple choreography you can do while singing, these activities gently support both the mind and body of older adults.
Today, we’ll introduce joyful singing exercises that help stimulate the brain and maintain physical fitness.
Enjoy a smile-filled exercise time with seasonal songs and tunes full of memories.
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- [Seated] Fun Health Exercises for Older Adults and Seniors
- [For Seniors] Enjoyable While Seated! Ball Exercises and Recreation
- [For Seniors] Today’s Recommended Activity: Fun and Engaging
- [For Seniors] Guaranteed to Be a Hit! Popular Day Service Recreational Activities
- For seniors: Enjoyable stick exercises. Easy workouts.
- [For Seniors] Core Training: Recommended Simple Rehabilitation
Laughter and Communication Exercises (1–10)
Gymnastics that creates laughter
It’s an “exercise that generates laughter.” Much depends on the recreation leader’s skill, but even just letting your wrists flop and then stopping them sharply can bring the house down.
Watching seniors laugh so joyfully makes us feel happy too.
The video also provides lectures on tips for making people laugh and what to communicate to help care for the body, so please watch it carefully and give it a try.
Soran-bushi exercise
This is a simple exercise incorporating the Soran Bushi, a Hokkaido folk song that is well-known throughout Japan, and it can be done even while seated.
Because it’s a famous folk song, doing the moves while singing may make it more enjoyable to get people moving.
The standard choreography has been simplified so participants can build strength with minimal strain.
Since performing the choreography properly and building the body are important, we recommend practicing with a slower-tempo version of the song.
Another key point is that by explaining the lyrics and the meaning behind the choreography, participants can also learn about the local culture.
Fireworks, swimming in the ocean, and the watermelon-splitting exercise
When you think of July, what comes to mind? Fireworks, swimming in the sea, watermelon-splitting—these may be some of the things that come to mind for older adults.
It’s said that recalling the past can help increase blood flow in the brain.
With that in mind, here’s an exercise routine that incorporates movements inspired by things associated with July.
Of course, it’s also fine to use movements based on July-related ideas provided by older participants themselves.
While doing the exercises, you can look back on childhood memories or summer episodes spent with family.
From there, conversations can naturally emerge, helping to promote communication as well.
Music Therapy: Fun with Rhythm
Recreation that uses music is popular with many people.
This time, we’ll introduce ideas for rhythm-based music therapy.
When you move your body to a rhythm, it becomes a dual task: you have to both “listen” to the rhythm and “move” in time with it, processing these two actions simultaneously.
This creates a situation where the brain works to its fullest.
Above all, moving together to music tends to create excitement and a sense of unity, making it a fun activity for everyone.
Brown kobin hand clap
Let us introduce the brown Kobin hand-clap that follows the rhythm.
Clap on “Pan,” and take a rest on “Un.” The tempo changes a little partway through the rhythm.
The number of claps also changes to match the tempo.
Clapping along while listening to the rhythm helps refresh both body and mind and fosters communication with those around you.
It’s an activity you can enjoy while seated, so please give it a try.
It’s also recommended to use small instruments like bells while doing it.
Laughter and Communication Exercises (11–20)
Hanagasa Ondo, a dance performed with fans in hand
The Yamagata Hanagasa Festival is held in Yamagata during the summer.
As one of the four major festivals of the Tohoku region, it reportedly attracts about one million visitors from inside and outside the prefecture.
Dancers don hanagasa hats and perform along to the song “Hanagasa Ondo.” Why not try bringing this summer festival from Yamagata Prefecture into senior care facilities as well? You can substitute the hanagasa with a uchiwa fan for the dance.
Using a fan allows you to express movements that look graceful and elegant with either one hand or both.
The dance can be done while seated, and its gentle motions are likely to bring smiles to the faces of older adults.
Care prevention exercises to the tune of Kiyoshi’s Zundoko-bushi
These days, Kiyoshi Hikawa has been showcasing new sides of his charm to the public.
I imagine there are fans of Kiyoshi Hikawa among older adults as well.
And when it comes to his hit songs, “Kiyoshi no Zundoko-bushi” comes to mind, doesn’t it? It’s a tune known across many generations.
Let’s move our bodies to “Kiyoshi no Zundoko-bushi.” The key to exercise is consistency.
If the workout uses a song familiar to older adults, it might be easier to keep it up while having fun.
By all means, try singing along as you do the exercises.