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[For Seniors] DIY Hand Rehabilitation Tools to Strengthen Fingertips: A Collection of Handmade Ideas

[For Seniors] DIY Hand Rehabilitation Tools to Strengthen Fingertips: A Collection of Handmade Ideas

Last updated:2025/7/9

Social worker / Care workermoko
My name is Moko, a mother of three who admired my mother and worked in the care industry as a care worker and as a medical social worker (MSW) in a hospital. I will be drawing on my previous experience to write mainly about caregiving. Thank you in advance.
Worked as a certified care worker for 17 years.Nanaka
I’ve been working as a certified care worker for 17 years. I’m Nanaka, a caregiving web writer. I decided to pursue this profession because I wanted a job that would help people. Having worked in day care for many years, I’ve experienced a wide variety of recreational activities. Exercise set to music, in particular, always created a cheerful atmosphere and was very well received. I’d be delighted to continue delivering writing that resonates with readers through caregiving-related articles. Thank you for your support.

Daily rehabilitation exercises performed by seniors contribute to both mental and physical health.

Finger rehabilitation in particular is recommended, as it provides beneficial stimulation to the brain.

In this article, we introduce handmade items that are great for finger rehabilitation for older adults.

With the goal of improving finger function, we’ve gathered easy-to-incorporate, DIY ideas for everyday life.

You can easily get the materials at 100-yen shops, so why not give them a try? If you’re thinking about making your own rehab items, be sure to use this as a reference.

[For Seniors] Rehabilitation Items to Train Finger Dexterity: Handmade Idea Collection (1–10)

Shoelace tying

[Rehabilitation Goods] Handmade—Wait, using scrap materials? You can train your fingers and your brain! Premium-level

Shoelace tying

Let’s use familiar items to improve the ability to skillfully use your hands and fingertips for precise, detailed tasks.

This time, we’ll use a shoe insole and a lace.

Make holes in the insole similar to those in a shoe so you can thread the lace through.

By lacing it like a shoelace, you can train dexterity—the ability to perform fine motor tasks accurately.

Dexterity is an important physical function directly connected to daily life, such as carrying objects, writing, and opening bottle caps.

With easy shoelace tying, it seems like you could keep up with the training every day.

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Button sewing

[Rehabilitation Goods] Handmade—Wait, using scrap materials? You can train your fingers and your brain! Premium-level

Let’s try making training tools using scrap materials or items from a 100-yen shop.

Leftover felt pieces and buttons from a craft activity can be transformed into rehabilitation tools.

If you don’t have them, make use of items sold at 100-yen shops.

Cut the felt into squares of about 3 centimeters and make a buttonhole in the center.

Thread the button with string and tie it, then pass it through the felt’s buttonhole.

It may be difficult to pass the button through at first, but with repeated practice you’ll get the hang of it.

Since it’s portable, one of the appealing points is that you can train anytime, anywhere.

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Zipper open/close

Recommended for day-service programs: Functional training using handmade rehabilitation tools that incorporate essential daily-life movements—doubles as individualized ADL practice. [Care Prevention / Senior Recreation]

Zipper open/close

What kinds of everyday items use zippers? There are pants and jackets, bags, and fabric pencil cases, for example.

Zippers can be difficult to operate if the pull tab is small or your hand movement is limited.

Also, since you open and close zippers by moving your wrist, they’re said to be effective for exercising your fingertips and wrists.

You can use zippers on items you already use in daily life, or on something you make yourself.

Try making a pencil case with a zipper or a small pouch.

It’s also recommended as a craft activity to do with older adults.

Change the zipper’s orientation between horizontal and vertical, and practice.

Imagining real situations where you actually use zippers—like on bags or shoes—while you train is said to be the key.

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Triangle Puzzle

[Rehabilitation Goods] Handmade—Wait, using scrap materials? You can train your fingers and your brain! Premium-level

Triangle Puzzle

Here’s an introduction to a triangle puzzle made with thick paper.

Create triangular puzzle pieces from thick paper, and also prepare several pieces colored red using a red pen.

Using the triangle pieces, you will recreate shapes that match the sample in both form and color.

Pinching and moving the thick paper pieces with your fingertips provides good training.

In addition, making and thinking about shapes that match the sample stimulates the brain and helps activate it.

It can also train spatial awareness and memory, which may help prevent dementia.

Because it’s a rehabilitation tool that can be done seated at a table, many older adults can participate.

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Möbius tie

Recommended for day-service programs: Functional training using handmade rehabilitation tools that incorporate essential daily-life movements—doubles as individualized ADL practice. [Care Prevention / Senior Recreation]

Möbius tie

We want seniors to enjoy doing rehabilitation, right? So here’s a fun finger-movement training using chenille stems (pipe cleaners).

Thread the pipe cleaners through a pegboard with evenly spaced holes in advance.

Then have the seniors twist the pipe cleaners using their fingertips.

Twist each pair of pipe cleaners five times.

People tend to feel the effort level when twisting between 5 and 20 pairs.

It’s effective for training finger dexterity and wrist movement.

Pipe cleaners and pegboards are sold at 100-yen shops’ craft sections, so preparation should be easy.

Please use this as a reference and give it a try!

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Straw threading with string

@flapuuu
Recreation Translation Kadoma Caregiving Straw Fingertips #IWantToBeOnTheRecommendations Waiting for likes A workplace with laughter Dexterous hands Translation Caregiver The real power of beautifying effects #JUICY
♬ JUICY (Chorus ver.) – Snow Man

Here’s an idea for a handmade rehabilitation tool recommended for seniors: the “straw threading” activity.

It’s simple—cut colorful straws into short pieces and thread them onto a string.

Pinching the straw pieces and threading them uses precise finger movements, which helps restore fine motor function in the fingertips.

Varying the colors and lengths also makes it a brain-training exercise.

All you need are straws and a string, both easily found at 100-yen shops, so preparation is simple.

It’s easy to start and enjoyable to do, which is another big plus.

Try incorporating it as rehab to support independence in daily life.

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Finger Dexterity Practice Board

https://www.tiktok.com/@n.annlee321/video/7050056488110279938

We’d like to share an idea for a simple rehabilitation tool for seniors: a “Finger Dexterity Practice Board” that can be made just by attaching everyday parts to a board.

Prepare items like buttons, hook-and-loop fasteners, snap buttons, buckles, and ribbons, nail them onto the board, and you’re ready to go.

No special skills are required, and it comes together in no time.

By fastening and unfastening each part, users naturally strengthen finger power and dexterity.

Since these movements are all useful in daily life, it serves as practical rehab and helps build confidence in everyday activities.

It’s an easy, recommended DIY training board for both home and care facilities.

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