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!
- [For Seniors] Challenge Your Brain with a Halloween Quiz! Fun Trivia Questions to Learn and Enjoy
- [For Seniors] Fun Autumn Activities: Recreation Games
- [For Seniors] Fun Halloween Games: Ideas to Enjoy with Ghosts, Mummies, and Spiderwebs
- Exciting Halloween games! Ideas that will captivate both kids and adults
- [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
Fun Halloween activities at a nursing care facility (11–20)
Origami Halloween paper fan
Using your hands to fold origami and stick round stickers to complete a craft is exciting and fun, isn’t it? The best part of making Halloween paper fans is the accordion folding that forms a circle.
After cutting the origami paper and folding it into an accordion, glue the edges together to make a circle.
Then cut ears or wings from construction paper to transform it into a cat or a bat.
It’s also fun to play with the colors of the accordion-folded section.
Add round stickers for the eyes and mouth, and you’re done! Enjoy making paper fans while experimenting with different expressions.
Eyeball-carrying relay
Let me introduce the Eyeball Relay—a game that’s not only fun but a little spooky.
Do you know the ping-pong ball relay? It’s very similar.
First, several players line up side by side, each holding a spoon.
The person at one end places a ping-pong ball designed to look like an eyeball onto their spoon.
They then pass it to the next person’s spoon, and the receiver passes it on to the next, and so on down the line.
It’s great for building teamwork when everyone cooperates, and it would also be exciting to split into two teams and compete.
Brain Training: Halloween Aha Moment
The moment when something you didn’t understand suddenly becomes clear is called an “aha moment.” When you can’t figure something out and feel frustrated, doesn’t finally finding the answer make you feel refreshed? It’s said that the brain becomes more active when you feel that sense of clarity.
It’s also recommended as brain training for older adults.
Let’s try a spot-the-difference activity that leverages this aha experience.
In this puzzle, only one part of the illustration changes slowly.
Choosing Halloween-themed illustrations is the key point.
Of course, comparing two images side by side to find differences can also lead to an aha moment.
It sounds fun to do a lively, large-group spot-the-difference game as a Halloween recreation, too.
Ghost Tug-of-War Game
A ghost-themed pulling game that lets you get fired up while staying seated is also recommended.
First, prepare a long, narrow table.
You can connect multiple tables as long as there are no gaps or height differences.
Next, prepare the materials.
Attach a ghost motif to a sheet of construction paper, then tie a string to it that’s the same length as the table.
Finally, place an empty plastic bottle on the construction paper, and you’re set.
Players pull the string as quickly as possible while being careful not to tip over the plastic bottle.
Spider Catch Game
Various characters besides pumpkins, ghosts, and witches help liven up Halloween.
Here’s a game featuring one such character: the spider.
Prepare a target that looks like a hula hoop, and stick thick tape across it in a web-like pattern.
Next, attach paper cups to the tape at equal intervals.
Sit with the setup in hand, and have another person stand a short distance away and throw ping-pong balls at the target.
You score points if the tape or paper cups catch the balls.
For example, 100 points for landing in a cup and 10 points for sticking to the tape.
Adjusting the points makes it even more fun.
It’s a perfect game to boost the Halloween spirit.
Snack buffet
When it comes to activities that liven up a festive and fun Halloween party, a snack buffet is a great choice.
In care facilities, staff and residents dress up in costumes and choose their favorite treats to enjoy.
To make it easy for older adults to participate, prepare Halloween-themed costumes and accessories ranging from simple to elaborate.
It’s an activity filled with a joyful atmosphere where everyone dresses up and enjoys sweets.
Setting up a photo spot for commemorative pictures is also perfect for creating lasting memories.
Fun Halloween Recreational Activities at a Care Facility (21–30)
A game where you knock off a hat with beanbags
Set up a jack-o’-lantern wearing a hat in the middle of the room and play a game where you toss beanbags to knock the hat off.
By arranging chairs around the jack-o’-lantern, older adults can participate comfortably while seated.
They can enjoy the fun of aiming and throwing the beanbags, as well as the sense of accomplishment when the hat falls.
It’s also recommended to prepare Halloween-themed background music and use a points system to make it more exciting.
Try incorporating this game to enjoy the nostalgic feel of beanbag play together with the excitement of Halloween.