[May Health Topic] Introducing recreational activities for seniors!
May is a month full of seasonal events, such as Children’s Day and Mother’s Day.
The weather becomes milder and more comfortable, making it easier for older adults to stay active.
With that in mind, this time we’re introducing easy, enjoyable recreational activities for seniors.
By incorporating crafts and songs unique to May, you can create an atmosphere where participants feel the season while having fun.
Everything is simple to try, so please enjoy participating together with the older adults around you.
- [For Seniors] Enjoy May! Recommended Recreational Activities and Games
- [For Seniors] Recommended Events for May: A Roundup of Ideas That Get Everyone Engaged
- [For Seniors] Introducing May-themed Origami!
- [For Seniors] May Calendar Craft: Motifs that color May, such as Children's Day (Tango no Sekku), Mother's Day, and seasonal flowers
- [For Seniors] May-Themed Wall Decoration Ideas Full of Seasonal Flair
- [Sports] Recreational games using a ball [Play]
- [For Seniors] Liven Up Cherry-Blossom Viewing! Fun Games and Recreational Activities
- For Seniors: Fun and Lively Exercise Recreation
- [For Seniors] Enjoy May: A Collection of Seasonal Craft and Wall Decoration Ideas
- For Seniors: Snacks to Make in May That Capture the Season
- [For Seniors] Enjoy at Day Service: A Roundup of May Craft Ideas
- With upbeat rhythm routines! Music therapy for seniors
- [For Seniors] Recommended Recreational Activities for Mother's Day
[May Health Topic] Introducing Recreational Activities for Seniors! (31–40)
Caregiving Exercise: The Apple Song
May is the season when we feel warmth and a refreshing breeze, isn’t it? The pleasant weather may inspire some older adults to get moving.
So let’s do some seated exercises suitable for elder care.
We’ll move along to the lyrics of “Ringo no Uta,” the first big hit song after the war.
If it’s a familiar song for older adults, it should make it easier to engage in the exercises.
Be sure to enjoy exercising while singing together.
Some older adults may find themselves humming the nostalgic lyrics and recalling fond memories.
Caregiving Exercise “Tea Picking”
Hachijūhachi-ya refers to the 88th day counting from Risshun (the first day of spring in the traditional calendar).
Since ancient times, it has been used as a guideline for starting agricultural work such as tea picking and rice planting.
This time, we will introduce an exercise set to the music of “Chatumi” (Tea Picking).
First, let’s check your body movements as a warm-up.
The motions follow the lyrics, so they’re easy to remember.
If you do it to the music, don’t forget the rhythmic claps at key points.
At first, you may find yourself focused on the movements, but once you get used to them, you can enjoy various variations, such as changing the tempo or doing it while singing.
Performing multiple activities at the same time—moving your body while thinking and singing—can also be expected to have brain-training benefits, making it recommended as a recreational activity in senior care facilities.
Paper cup launcher
It’s a game where you swing a stick made of newspaper to launch a paper cup placed on the tip forward, and compete on how far it flies.
Your ability to control force is tested—how you swing determines how well the power transfers to the cup and how far it goes.
Just swinging with brute force won’t work, so pay attention to where you start the swing, when you stop it, and the angle.
Through the game, you’ll also get good movement in your upper body, especially around the shoulders, which is another key benefit.
Balloon basket
Let’s enjoy basketball using balloons.
Basketball often comes up as a topic on TV and in newspapers, doesn’t it? Many older adults are probably familiar with basketball.
Have the older adults sit in a circle on chairs and try to get balloons into a hoop hanging in the center.
You can also split them into left and right sides for a team game.
Some older adults may have enjoyed playing basketball in the past.
Reminiscing about those days could make it even more exciting.
Balloon volleyball box-in
This is a game where you use a handheld uchiwa fan to hit a balloon upward and try to get it into a box placed in the center of the table.
Because the box is positioned out of arm’s reach, your control over how you launch the balloon is really put to the test.
People closer to the box end up moving their hands more, so it’s best to have everyone try multiple rounds, changing the starting positions and the box’s position to keep the balloon circulating evenly.
You can also adjust the box’s size and height to change the difficulty and help players focus even more.
[May Health Topic] Introducing Recreational Activities for Seniors! (41–50)
Balloon volleyball stick whacking
When you fill a balloon with air, it moves in a light, floaty way, right? Let’s try playing volleyball with one of those floaty balloons by hitting it with sticks.
Divide into two teams and have the older adults sit while holding a stick.
When the balloon comes to you, use the stick to return it like in volleyball.
The key is to use longer sticks.
The slow-moving balloon volleyball will surely get older adults excited.
Once everyone gets used to it, try using two balloons, and so on.
Fly away, koi-nobori!
Let me introduce a recreation activity using a koinobori (carp streamer) called “Fly Away, Koinobori.” You will need one double-spread newspaper page, a pen, and tape.
First, fold the double-spread newspaper in half, then fold down about 10 centimeters along the top edge.
Roll the paper into a tube so that the folded section is on the inside.
Tape it to prevent it from unrolling.
With the koinobori shape complete, use a pen to draw designs and patterns to create your original koinobori.
To use it, launch it like a paper airplane.
You can adapt the activity in many ways: compete for flight distance, flight time, or aim at targets.
While having fun, it also provides exercise and training from the shoulders to the fingertips, making it recommended for senior care facilities.