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!
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Recommended Fun Performances That Will Appeal to Seniors (51–60)
Flag-raising game
Listen carefully to the commands and try the flag-raising challenge! Here are some ideas for a flag-raising game.
In this game, you hold red and white flags and follow commands like “Raise red, lower white,” raising and lowering the flags accordingly.
It’s a simple yet classic game with unique rules that test your concentration and has been loved for generations.
Just tape cut construction paper onto straws or chopsticks to make the flags, and you’re ready to go! Even if you get tripped up, it’s great to keep the mood light and enjoy the challenge.
Balloon attraction
This event is perfect as a sports day recreation for seniors that can be enjoyed easily while seated.
Place a ring on the floor or on a table and set a balloon in the center.
Attach a long string to the balloon, and participants reel in the string to pull the balloon toward themselves.
It’s very safe and allows anyone to take part without strain, which is part of its appeal.
The excitement builds as the balloon gets closer.
The person who catches the balloon first wins, and making it a team competition creates a sense of unity in the venue.
It’s also recommended to try using red and white balloons for the respective teams.
Shopping Boogie
“Kaimono Boogie” was released in 1950 (Showa 25) and became a big hit.
Many seniors have probably heard it, haven’t they? It has also been covered by many artists up to the present day.
With its cheerful, lively melody, just listening to “Kaimono Boogie” makes your heart feel light.
Why not have the staff put on a dance performance to the song? If you dress up like a housewife going shopping, wearing an apron, it’ll be perfect.
Both men and women can get into character as housewives and perform the dance for a fun birthday party.
It’s sure to satisfy the seniors as well.
Gesture Game
A gesture game you often see on variety shows.
It doesn’t require any props—just your body—so it’s easy to enjoy and even gives you a bit of exercise.
As you know, the way it works is that the performer conveys the prompt to the participants using only body movements.
There are many ways to express it: capturing distinctive features, imitating actions, and highlighting key points of expression.
The performer thinks about how to communicate and how to represent the prompt through movement.
Participants, watching and wondering what it could be, focus on the motions and make associations, so it can also be expected to have brain-training benefits.
Give it a try!
Recommended Fun Performances That Will Be a Hit With Seniors (Ages 61–70)
Table hockey
Introducing table hockey, a game that’s a blast whether you’re playing with a small group or a larger one.
Since you play seated, anyone can join in.
Cover the table so the ball won’t fall off anywhere except from the two ends.
Make strikers out of cardboard, place the ball in the center of the table, and you’re ready to go! Play to five points—the winner is the one who sends the ball off the opponent’s end of the table.
It’s fun while also helping to build arm strength, reaction speed, and decision-making, so it can be used as an occupational therapy activity as well.
Give it a try!
disk hit
Let us introduce Disk Hit, a game you can enjoy using paper plates and paper cups.
Use empty milk or juice cartons as pins and throw paper plates like a flying disc.
Each person throws seven plates, and you compete by the number of pins you knock down.
It’s fun for individuals or groups, and it can be played either sitting or standing, so anyone can join.
Throwing paper plates engages everything from the shoulders to the fingertips, making it a functional exercise while you play.
It’s highly game-like and exciting, so it’s also recommended as a recreation activity for senior care facilities.
Balloon Fight
Raising and lowering your arms isn’t something we do very often in daily life, but it’s essential for activities like getting dressed and cleaning.
This time, we’re introducing Balloon Fight, a game that lets you train your arms while having fun.
Hang a net from the ceiling and line up balloons of various sizes.
Form teams of three, and within a 30-second time limit, compete to see how many balloons you can knock down using fans.
You can make the game more engaging by changing the points based on the size of the balloons that are knocked down.
Give it a try!