[Even During Hospital Stays] Time-Killing Items You’d Want to Gift to Seniors
There are probably quite a few people who are wondering what to give their parents, grandparents, or other older relatives—something they can enjoy during little pockets of free time or to pass the time.
This article is a must-read for those people: we introduce fun, playable items that make perfect time-killers to give to seniors.
Try using these ideas for passing the time at home or for finding something enjoyable during a hospital stay.
We also recommend combining a few items into a gift set!
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- [For Seniors] Brain-training puzzle game you can enjoy solo! Perfect pastime for killing time
- [For Seniors] Recommended Birthday Gifts for Those Living in Care Facilities
- [For Seniors] Recommended Handmade Activities! Simple Ideas
- Hand games that liven things up for seniors—also great brain training
- For Seniors: Effective Recreation for Preventing Care Needs—Have Fun While Staying Healthy
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- [For Seniors] What's in the Box? A Collection of Exciting Content Ideas
- [For Seniors] Today’s Recommended Activity: Fun and Engaging
- Gift ideas for seniors: presents for parents, grandparents, and friends.
[Even During Hospitalization] Pastime Items for the Elderly That Make Great Gifts (21–30)
Adult coloring book
Adult coloring books are actually a lot of fun.
Even if you’re not good at drawing, it’s totally fine.
Just pick the colors you like and fill them in freely.
There are all kinds of designs—flowers, landscapes, and more—and just looking at them is exciting.
Spending time slowly layering colors with colored pencils or watercolors is very soothing.
It improves your focus and stimulates your creativity, too.
Best of all, looking at your finished piece is incredibly satisfying.
If you have someone to enjoy it with, it can spark lively conversation.
Why not try it as a new hobby?
scratch art
Scratch art can make a wonderful hobby.
It’s great because you don’t need any special preparation—once you have a set, you can start right away.
Scratching the black surface to reveal the hidden, vibrant designs underneath is an exciting experience.
You can also enjoy displaying your finished pieces in your room.
Why not brighten a quiet afternoon with some creative time? The power of art can enrich your everyday life.
You can find scratch art sets at stationery stores or online, so give it a try!
Sewing kit
When you’re in the hospital, it’s easy to overthink things.
Having something you can get absorbed in might lift your spirits.
A perfect gift for a hospital stay—when it’s easy to feel down—is a craft kit.
It comes with all the materials you need, so even beginners can put something together easily.
Sewing kits come as complete sets, making them easy to start with for first-timers.
You can find craft kits at 100-yen shops, and there are also other DIY kits, so it’s fun to try out a variety of projects.
puzzle ring
Disentanglement puzzles—known as chie-no-wa in Japanese—have long been a popular way to pass the time.
They get your fingers moving and your brain working, which helps stimulate the mind.
They may look difficult, but if you take your time, anyone can enjoy them.
The sense of accomplishment when you finish is something special.
They’re also great for older adults.
If you tackle them together, you’ll likely have lively conversations.
They’re perfect for a change of pace during a hospital stay as well.
It might be nice to prepare a few with different difficulty levels and let people choose the one they prefer.
Let’s enjoy some fun time with disentanglement puzzles.
Rubik’s Cube
How about having some fun and giving your brain a workout with a Rubik’s Cube? It’s a simple game of matching colors, but surprisingly tricky.
Don’t worry—if you practice, you’ll definitely get the hang of it.
Using your fingers to line up the colors gives your brain a good exercise and brings a sense of accomplishment.
Solving it together can also spark lively conversation.
Take it slow, enjoy the process, and challenge yourself at your own pace.
You’re sure to discover something new.
It seems like the perfect little toy for those short breaks.
origami
Origami is a perfect hobby for seniors.
There’s something special about the joy of creating a lovely piece from a single sheet of paper.
Folding colorful paper stimulates creativity, and it also helps develop concentration and dexterity.
Displaying your finished pieces in your room or showing them to friends can spark lively conversations.
It’s also appealing because it’s easy to start.
Through origami, you can spend time that enriches the heart.
It’s enjoyable even during a hospital stay, making it great for a change of pace.
Why not take your time and enjoy some origami?
Wooden 3D puzzle
When you’re in the hospital, it’s easy to have too much time on your hands.
Rest is important, of course, but many people start to feel down when they have nothing to do all day.
That’s where wooden 3D puzzles are perfect.
They’re puzzle games you can enjoy like a video game and are popular among older adults.
The idea is to fill in the gaps, like Tetris.
Depending on the difficulty, you can change the size of the space and the number of blocks used.
Thinking it through works as brain training and also supports overall mental and physical health, so it’s highly recommended.