Fun Halloween recreation activities at a nursing care facility
When it comes to big events in October, Halloween is the first that comes to mind!
Many day service staff may be thinking, “We want our elderly clients to experience the excitement of Halloween that’s so popular among younger generations!”
In this article, we introduce recommended recreational activities for Halloween events held at care facilities.
We’ve gathered a variety of content to liven up Halloween at care homes—from easy-to-play games to Halloween decorations that brighten up the facility.
Let’s help older adults fully enjoy the fun of Halloween!
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- [For Seniors] Handmade Halloween Treats to Enjoy: Fun Ideas with Pumpkins and Ghosts
- [For Senior Care Facilities] Fun! Recommended Events for October
- Recommended recreational activities to help seniors enjoy their time in care facilities
- [For Seniors] Let’s Get Excited with Halloween Crafts! Fun and Easy Decoration Ideas
- [For Seniors] Recreation Games Related to October Events
- [For Seniors] Highlights of Fun Events at Day-Service Centers
- Explaining interesting initiatives at nursing care facilities! We also introduce seasonal recreational activities.
- [For Seniors] Enjoyable Day Service: A Collection of Fun Event Ideas
- [For Seniors] Liven Up November Day Services! Fun Autumn Event Ideas
Enjoyable Halloween recreational activities at a nursing care facility (81–90)
Demon Slayer: Tanjiro
How about cosplaying as Tanjiro Kamado, the protagonist of the hugely popular manga and anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, which has become a social phenomenon? When you think of Tanjiro, his trademark is the green-and-black checkered haori.
You can make it yourself, but since the series is so popular, there are plenty of ready-made adult cosplay costumes available.
Under the haori, he wears the Demon Slayer Corps uniform, but if you don’t have something similar, a black turtleneck and pants will do just fine! Then stick a toy Japanese sword from a 100-yen shop at your waist.
If you’re planning to meet kids on Halloween, they’ll definitely be excited and shout, “It’s Tanjiro!”
Demon Slayer: Nezuko
This is a cosplay costume of Nezuko Kamado, the younger sister of Tanjiro Kamado, the protagonist of the hugely popular series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.
Nezuko wears a pink kimono with a hemp-leaf pattern.
Since Demon Slayer became a massive hit, it should be fairly easy to find fabric if you want to make it yourself.
Of course, ready-made cosplay costumes are also available.
Either is fine to wear, but one thing you must not forget for a Nezuko costume is the bamboo muzzle! For certain reasons, Nezuko has become a demon, the natural enemy of humans.
To avoid harming people, she bites down on a piece of bamboo.
That said, you don’t actually need to bite it—attach a string and let it hang from your neck.
castle
Let’s make a three-dimensional castle using paper cups! It pairs perfectly with Halloween motifs, so it’s great for a Halloween craft activity.
First, sketch doors and windows on the paper cup and cut them out with a craft knife.
Next, color the cup with a black marker.
Finally, cut colored paper into a circle to make a conical roof, glue it on, and you’re done! You can also line the inside of the cup with colored paper or cellophane to create a lit-up effect.
If you add an LED light inside, it works as a lampshade too—give it a try! If you’re using it as a wall decoration, display it together with silhouettes of bats, witches, or the moon for something adults will enjoy as well.
Making candied apples
Candied apples are a classic sweet commonly sold at festival food stalls.
Their cute appearance and juicy flavor make them a perfect fit for the festive atmosphere of Halloween events.
They’re easy to make with just apples, sugar, and water, so they’re great for a candy-making activity.
Wash the apples well, pat them dry, cut them into bite-sized pieces, and skewer them with bamboo sticks.
Put sugar and water in a frying pan and simmer until thickened, then coat the apples with the syrup before it hardens.
Place them on a plate lined with parchment paper and chill in the refrigerator until set—that’s it! Give it a try as a sweet-making activity to brighten a special day at a care facility.
color ball holder
Color Ball Toss is a game where players compete to see who can get the most balls of a designated color into their own basket.
Colorful balls are placed in a cardboard box or similar container, and the rule is that the older adult sitting across from you will place the balls.
Players transport the balls using sticks or nets, and the outcome depends on how well they can carry the specified color.
You can make it a team competition or hold a tournament to liven up the party.
Put on Halloween-themed costumes and dive into a game everyone will get hooked on.
Halloween Dracula
A classic Halloween costume: Dracula! Dracula outfits are popular with everyone from kids to adults, and there are many different types sold in stores.
The must-have items for a Dracula costume are a black cape with a red lining and a white shirt.
A shirt with decoration around the collar looks even more Dracula-like.
If possible, prepare fangs as well.
You’ll need to make or buy the cape, but a shirt you already own is fine.
For a makeup touch, make your face pale to add an extra eerie effect!
Fun Halloween Recreational Activities at a Care Facility (91–100)
Halloween Pumpkin Pudding
How about serving pumpkin-themed sweets—perfect for Halloween—at your event? Homemade pudding might seem intimidating, but if you have a microwave oven, it’s easy to make! The caramel is the trickiest part, so it’s fine to include it or skip it.
The pumpkin softens quickly in the microwave; then just add the other ingredients, pour into heatproof cups, and bake in a water bath in the oven.
Decorate with ghost faces or spiderweb patterns to set the Halloween mood!
In conclusion
We introduced some recommended recreational activities for Halloween at care facilities—what did you think? It’s easy to assume Halloween is just for young people, but that’s not the case at all! As a seasonal event, we sincerely hope older adults can enjoy Halloween as well.