[Brain Training for Seniors] Recommended Hand-Play Recreation for Dementia Prevention
Fingerplay recreation that also helps prevent dementia.
Because it can be done while seated, it’s easy for older adults who have difficulty standing or walking to participate, and it’s offered in many senior care facilities.
That said, it’s tough for staff to plan activities by choosing from the many different fingerplay options, isn’t it?
So this time, we’re introducing recommended fingerplay recreation activities that can also help prevent dementia.
We’ve gathered a wide variety—from simple fingertip exercises to activities that involve moving the hands while singing, which can also help strengthen the muscles used for speech.
The fingertips are so rich in nerves that they’re often called the “second brain.”
Let’s have fun together while moving our fingertips and hands a lot to activate the brain!
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- [For Seniors] Extremely Effective Brain Training! A Fun Collection of Hand Games
- [For Seniors] Fun and Engaging Brain-Training Recreation
- [For Seniors] Popular Hand-Play Songs: Fun Brain-Training Ideas
- Cognicise you can do while seated. Simple dementia prevention.
- [For Seniors] Enjoy safely even during the COVID-19 pandemic: Seated activities
- [For Seniors] Brain Training Recommended for Dementia Prevention
- [For Seniors] Recommended Even for People with Dementia! Simple Recreational Activities
- Simple games for preventing and improving dementia
- [For Seniors] Liven Things Up With Different Left-Right Movements! Game and Exercise Ideas
[Brain Training for Seniors] Recommended for Dementia Prevention! Hand-Play Recreation (21–30)
Hometown: A song-and-exercise routine that livens things up with three movements
Move your hands to the melody of the children’s song “Furusato,” and stimulate your brain not only through the hand movements but also by visualizing your hometown.
The flow is two claps followed by forming a number with your hands, thinking ahead to the next number while keeping the rhythm of the song in mind.
After making a 5 with both hands, the count returns to 1, so this is where you should focus carefully and aim for smoother movements.
Once you get used to it, we also recommend increasing the speed to further improve concentration.
Improve cold sensitivity! Exercises to make your fingers easier to move
Finger movements are essential for smooth daily living and also contribute to safety when holding objects.
This exercise focuses on consciously engaging finger movements to promote circulation and activate the brain.
The routine isn’t complicated: while paying close attention to which part of the hand you’re touching, rub one hand with the other.
By alternating which hand you touch, you can carefully check the sensations in both hands and connect that awareness to smoother, more coordinated movement.
[Brain Training for Seniors] Recommended for Dementia Prevention! Hand Play Recreational Activities (31–40)
Exercise collection specialized in improving hand and finger movements
This is an exercise where you perform various finger movements in sequence, checking how your fingers move while aiming for smoother motion.
The routine progresses from overall movements to examining each finger’s motion one by one, gradually becoming more complex, which can also be expected to stimulate the brain.
If you find a movement that doesn’t go as you intend, focus on that one to work toward improving your finger control.
It’s also recommended to do the exercises to the rhythm of a children’s song or similar music, as it helps you keep time while you practice.
The Itomaki (Spool Winding) Song Using Rubber Bands
This exercise aims to make finger movements smoother by stretching a rubber band with both hands and moving it from finger to finger.
Maintaining strength is important to keep the band well stretched, so sustaining effort while moving adds complexity that also helps stimulate the brain.
If you coordinate the movement of shifting the rubber band with a song—such as the children’s song “Ito Maki”—and proceed rhythmically, it will further improve smoothness.
We also recommend starting with patterns that move the band to the same finger on both hands, then gradually shifting the positions to make the patterns more complex over time.
Hishimochi Puzzle
@e6u42 Hishimochi Puzzle ★★ A game where two red and two white players stack colored boxes to match the sample. It serves as brain training. Materials: 36 empty milk soap boxes, origami paper in three colors, and paper cups with 2 male dolls and 2 female dolls attached.#Asahikawa#Asahikawatranslation#WelfareCaregiverCaregivingElderlyNurse#KohakuHome-visit nursingHelper RecruitmentCaregiver recruitmentTarget practice#ElderlyRecreationRecreation for the elderlybeanbags#activities#kindergartan#preschoolactivities#elderycare#older#nursinghome#movement#activating#happykid#etkinlik#kidsactivies#homeschool#preschoolactivities
♪ Happy Doll Festival – Yumi Baba / Wakakusa Children’s Choir
I want to play at the Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day) event! Here’s an idea for a hishi-mochi puzzle.
It’s a unique puzzle where you combine pieces while looking at a sample.
You’ll need 36 empty boxes, origami paper, paper cups, and illustrations of Hina dolls.
The three colors are the key point of the hishi-mochi puzzle, but if you change the colors, it could be used for other events too.
It’s important to prepare empty boxes that are the same shape and size.
Definitely give it a try!
Handmade puzzle made of cardboard
Turn your own drawing into a puzzle! Here are some ideas for making a handmade puzzle out of cardboard.
It sounds fun to create a puzzle that’s uniquely yours, doesn’t it? This is a great, enjoyable idea for people who are good at drawing or simply love to draw! What you’ll need: cardboard, drawing paper, glue, paste, a ruler, a pen, a craft knife, clothespins, and more.
Cut up your drawing and it transforms into a puzzle! Adding a frame can also serve as a hint when fitting the pieces together.
Give it a try!
PET bottle cap puzzle
Let’s make use of scrap materials! Here’s an idea for a PET bottle cap puzzle.
Some people might think gathering materials for a puzzle is difficult, but this time, let’s make one with items you have at home.
You’ll need an empty box, PET bottle caps, a permanent marker, and a ruler.
Draw a grid on the empty box, then write the same characters both inside the grid squares and on the bottle caps—and you’re done! It’s simple and easy to make, so it’s a highly recommended idea!