[Brain Training for Seniors] Recommended Hand-Play Recreation for Dementia Prevention

Goo-pa and clapping

Brain training exercises: 5 easy picks even for seniors — fists, open hands, and clapping — recreation

Let’s try various hand games using just three actions: a fist, an open hand, and a clap.

At first, it’s fine to simply perform the three movements slowly.

Once you get used to them, alternate extending the fist and open hand forward, occasionally move them to the side, and while doing the fist–open–clap sequence, try vocalizing sounds like “pa-ta-ka-ra” or “a-i-u-e-o.” You can also keep the fist and open-hand motions the same while gradually increasing the number of claps.

With just these three movements, you can do a wide variety of brain-training hand games.

Adding different movements stimulates the brain, and moving your mouth as well can help prevent aspiration.

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SAKI

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one hundred twenty-three dash four dash two dash five

Brain Training Exercises with Songs: Senior Recreation – 1-2-3, 4, 2, 5 – Easy Exercises

This game involves matching randomly appearing numbers by raising the same number of fingers.

Some of you may have played it as a child.

It’s a great brain-training activity that can be confusing even when played normally, but you can stimulate your brain even more by increasing the difficulty! For example, you can alternate hands to make the numbers, add a handclap after a specific number like 5, or start counting from the thumb instead of the index finger for 1.

By adding these small twists to an already slightly tricky hand game, you have to think even more while playing, which makes it even more promising for helping prevent cognitive decline.

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Brain training with rock-paper-scissors

Finger Exercises: Brain Training with 10 Rock-Paper-Scissors Variations to Prevent Dementia and Need for Care

This version of the Rock-Paper-Scissors exercise incorporates brain training elements.

It’s recommended for those who want to try a twist on the usual recreational activities.

Examples include exercises where you alternate hands while making rock, scissors, and paper, or doing rock-paper-scissors with one hand while the other hand keeps count.

All of them are challenging tasks that require full brain engagement.

It might be tough at first, but if you do them every day, your body will naturally remember.

Using your fingertips provides good stimulation for the brain and can help support both mental and physical health.

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Nanaka

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beanbags

How to Play in a Circle: Beanbag Juggling for Beginners

As a fun idea for everyone to enjoy together, we also recommend sitting in a circle and relaying beanbags.

Have three or more people form a circle and place a beanbag in the left hand.

Then, with the right hand, pick it up and place it into the person next to you’s left hand.

Since you need to synchronize your movements, it’s best to sing a children’s song and match the rhythm.

Try to choose a song with a relatively slow tempo.

Doing two tasks at once—singing and handling the beanbag—helps activate the brain.

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yamamoto

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Rhythmic exercises to a children’s song

If you want everyone to have fun together, this is it! Rhythm activities to “Under the Spreading Chestnut Tree.” #musictherapy #musicactivity #dayservice #dayrec #recreation #seniors

Rhythmic exercises set to children’s songs—what a wonderful idea.

Let’s move our arms and legs to the song “Antagata Dokosa.” Lifting your foot on the “sa” syllable uses timing, making it perfect for dementia prevention.

If you add it to your morning routine, it could help you start the day feeling refreshed.

Children’s songs are nostalgic and familiar, so older adults are likely to enjoy them too.

Clapping along while singing can also help strengthen the mouth muscles.

Let’s have fun moving together and activate our brains.