[Elderly Care Facilities] Let’s Have Fun Together! Exciting Sports Day Events

obstacle course

Sports Day at the day-care service: obstacle race

We adapted the popular sports day event, the obstacle race, for seniors.

Instead of the seniors competing themselves, daruma dolls made from cardboard race each other! Attach casters to the cardboard daruma so they glide easily on the floor, and add a string so seniors can control them with ease.

For obstacles that block the daruma’s path, slightly raised pieces of cardboard work well.

Avoid making the steps too high, or the daruma won’t be able to get over them.

Balancing the daruma is tricky, which also makes this great for helping prevent cognitive decline in seniors!

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miyabi

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A bingo game that uses both the head and the body to have fun

[Urayasu School Tuesday Class] A Bingo Game That Makes You Think While You Run (Lower Grades Class)

This is a game where you toss beanbags into targets arranged in a grid, aiming to line up a row.

By adjusting the number and size of the squares and the distance to the targets, you can tailor the rules to the participants and make it exciting.

The key is how you throw the beanbags so they reach the targets; it helps build concentration for gauging distances to far objects and for adjusting throwing strength.

Assess your own abilities carefully and decide which targets you’re more likely to reach.

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kappamaki

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balloon volleyball

[Senior Activity] We tried a “balloon volleyball” game using balloons and fans at our day service activity, and it was a hit (lol). Think we can manage 100 volleys?

Balloon Volleyball is a game that treats a balloon like a volleyball.

Because the rules have you hit the balloon with a handheld fan (uchiwa), you can easily play even while sitting in a chair! Instead of following standard volleyball rules, you can also simply count how many consecutive rallies you can keep going, which can be really exciting.

You might enjoy playing as one united team with everyone working together, or competing in team matches.

The motion of hitting the balloon with an uchiwa uses the hands, wrists, fingers, and arms effectively, providing great stimulation for the brain as well!

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miyabi

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Borrowed Item Race

Borrowed Goods Race Survival: Colorful Peach × Ink × Tama

The borrowing race is a classic event beloved at sports festivals.

It’s also an activity that everyone can enjoy together at sports days where older adults take center stage.

First, participants race toward a box filled with slips of paper.

If walking is difficult, adjust by shortening the distance or using a wheelchair.

Next, once they reach the goal together with the person or item written on the paper, the race is over.

In addition to individual races, team events that make use of teamwork among older adults are also a great option.

Why not give this event a try and fire up the cheers from the audience?

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mutō

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Ring Relay

Spring Sports Day 3: Ring Relay

A big sports day at the facility—everyone can join in because it can be done while seated.

This is a relay where participants pass variously sized rings from one person to the next using chopsticks.

Once everyone is seated and holding a single chopstick, the event begins.

Larger rings are easy to pass smoothly, but as the rings get smaller, precise chopstick handling is required, and the handoff won’t go well unless you’re in sync with your neighbor.

Forming teams to race for speed makes it even more exciting and fun.