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Lovely senior life

Recommended fun performances that will appeal to elderly people

At day service centers and residential facilities where many older adults gather, seasonal events are often held.

Some staff members may be wondering what kind of performances will delight the seniors at these times.

In this article, we introduce easy-to-implement entertainment ideas and games.

We’ve picked out performances that staff can present, as well as activities that seniors can join in together.

Let’s aim for a crowd-pleasing event that everyone can enjoy and get the excitement going!

Recommended Fun Performances That Will Be a Hit With Seniors (Ages 61–70)

Hand-wrapping newspaper

Senior activity: super easy, can be done seated with both hands or one hand—newspaper roll-up. #RecreationForSeniors #Newspaper #Easy
Hand-wrapping newspaper

Here’s a fun recreation activity using newspaper! The rules are simple: compete to see how fast you can roll up the newspaper using your hands.

You can make it more fun by setting different rules, like using both hands or only one hand.

Another exciting variation is to face each other and roll up the same sheet of newspaper from opposite ends to see who can roll up more.

The heated competition will get older adults watching to enjoy it together as well! This activity can be done while seated, so people who have difficulty standing or who use a wheelchair can also take part.

Rhythmic gymnastics at Blue Light Yokohama

Seated singing exercise: “Showa Kayō Blue Light Yokohama” – rhythm exercises for seniors and older adults #seniors #exercise
Rhythmic gymnastics at Blue Light Yokohama

Released in 1968, “Blue Light Yokohama” is one of the signature songs of the Showa era.

Many older adults have likely sung it at karaoke or heard it on TV or the radio.

Let’s try some rhythmic exercises with this familiar tune.

Since the song portrays a couple in love, it could be fun to incorporate movements that match the lyrics.

Older adults might feel nostalgic, recalling the time when this song was popular as they exercise.

You could even sing along while doing the exercises.

Otedama Hoi

Senior Recreation: Seria 100-Yen Shop Goods – Guaranteed Laughs! Sit-Down Friendly “Beanbag Toss” | #RecreationForSeniors #Seria #Towel
Otedama Hoi

Here’s a simple recreation activity using a large bath towel and beanbags.

Two people sit facing each other on chairs and each holds an end of the bath towel.

Place several beanbags in the center of the towel.

Working together, the two people shake the towel to build momentum and toss the beanbags toward a target.

It gets exciting when many beanbags land in the target.

Another key point of this activity is cooperation between the two participants.

Older adults can naturally create opportunities for interaction by calling out to each other and working together.

Through this recreation, it’s likely to bring more smiles to older adults.

Foot Beanbag Bingo

Beanbag Toss Bingo #Recreation #DayService #Seniors
Foot Beanbag Bingo

One activity option for events and parties is a bingo game.

Many older adults are already familiar with bingo, aren’t they? While bingo is usually played on paper, this time we’ll introduce a version that uses the feet and beanbags.

Prepare nine paper plates or cups, and have the older adults use their feet to toss beanbags into them.

Use colored tape to group the plates or cups by color, and change the score based on where the beanbag lands.

For example, award 20 points if the beanbag lands in a plate or cup of the same color, and 10 points if it’s a different color.

Because they lift their legs to toss the beanbags, older adults can enjoy the game while also training their legs.

Rock, paper, scissors

Tips for Big Laughs: 5 Patterns to Create Humor Using Only Rock, Paper, Scissors
Rock, paper, scissors

Movements of the hands and fingers are closely connected to the brain’s nerves, so they have a deep relationship.

It’s said that moving the hands and fingers can help prevent dementia and reduce the risk of falls.

Many senior care facilities likely incorporate activities that move the fingers, such as the rock–paper–scissors exercise.

So, let’s add a little twist to your usual finger exercises.

Try doing rock–paper–scissors gradually faster, or go in reverse—paper, scissors, rock—while speeding up.

It’s also great to add handclaps in between, or make a fox shape with your hand.

It’s okay to make mistakes with this exercise, and not doing it perfectly will probably bring some laughs.

It’s a finger workout you can enjoy while having fun.

High touch rec

Can't stop laughing lol! A high-five recreation that gets everyone excited [Senior brain-training exercise]
High touch rec

A high five is when two people clap each other’s hands, often when greeting brightly or feeling happy.

Let’s turn this high five into a recreation activity that seniors can enjoy.

Have everyone sit in a circle on chairs and high-five the person next to them.

Try high-fiving with just one hand, or flip the hands over to change the palm orientation as you go.

Make the seated circle smaller so people can reach to tap someone’s hand, or do double high fives with both hands.

Thinking about who has a free hand and counting to ten while high-fiving can also help train the brain.

It’s an activity that may spark conversations with people who don’t usually talk and broaden communication.

Pikagoro

Senior recreation—guaranteed big laughs! Pikagoro lets you enjoy fun brain training. #RecreationForSeniors #BrainTraining #Easy #Fun #Entertaining
Pikagoro

As we age, it’s said that handling multiple tasks at the same time becomes more difficult.

Using both the mind and body has brain-training benefits, and if you move your body while thinking, you can expect even greater brain activation.

This time, I’ll introduce the Pika-Goro game.

Have the older adults sit facing each other, each holding two sticks.

The caller says “pika-pika” or “goro-goro.” On the cue “dokan,” the older adults should both grip the sticks and raise them.

Once everyone gets used to it, calling out “pika-pika” or “goro-goro” several times and then feinting can make it even more exciting.