[May Health Topic] Introducing recreational activities for seniors!

Hyakunin Isshu

812 Hyakunin Isshu

May 27 is Hyakunin Isshu Day.

It’s a great opportunity, so I’d like to introduce it.

It is said that this date marks the creation of the first Hyakunin Isshu, because Fujiwara no Teika—a court noble and poet active from the Heian period to the early Kamakura period—selected representative poems by 100 poets from collections such as the Kokin Wakashu and the Shin Kokin Wakashu.

While it’s commonly played like a card game (karuta), it’s actually quite profound.

As you memorize the verses, locate the card being read, and snatch it, your mind is rapidly cycling through comprehension, thinking, judgment, and action.

It also works well as brain training and can be enjoyed by multiple people, so it’s recommended as a recreational activity in senior care facilities.

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kojifumi

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Tea Picking Game

The “Tea-Picking Game” of the 88th Night

Tea picking, famous for the phrase “Hachijūhachi-ya, when summer draws near.” This time, we’re introducing a game inspired by Hachijūhachi-ya.

Prepare green and light green origami paper and roll each sheet into a cone shape.

It’s good to have a mix of sizes, large and small.

Set out two disposable containers so you can harvest green mature leaves and light green young leaves separately.

Place shredded newspaper dyed green inside a cardboard box.

Once you’ve tucked the origami into the box, you’re all set.

At the signal, harvest while sorting between leaves and young leaves.

There are many variations: race for speed, compete for how many you can harvest within a time limit, or use tweezers.

It can help train fine motor skills and improve comprehension and decision-making.

Give it a try!

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kojifumi

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Foot bath with iris-infused water

On Children's Day, let's take a shobu (iris) bath! For Children's Day footbaths, make it a shobu (iris) bath.

While Tango no Sekku is known as Children’s Day, its original meaning—warding off evil and praying for good health—brings blessings to everyone.

So today, we’d like to introduce a foot bath using sweet flag (shobu).

All you need is a large container, hot water, and shobu.

That’s it.

Fill the container with hot water and float the shobu on top.

Since the leaves could potentially irritate the skin, chopping them into small pieces and placing them in a mesh bag allows you to enjoy it safely.

The expected benefits include promoting circulation, relieving fatigue, strengthening the internal organs, easing sensitivity to cold, and alleviating stiff shoulders, making it especially pleasing for older adults.

You can find shobu at supermarkets or florists, so please give it a try.

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kojifumi

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Head and shoulder massage

Super easy and pro-level! How to do head and shoulder massages: Give a head massage to someone close to you at home!

Giving a head and shoulder massage on Mother’s Day is a wonderful way to show your appreciation, and it’s highly recommended.

Playing some relaxing music while you massage can help create an even deeper sense of calm.

For a head massage, the key is to use pressure that comes from your elbows and gently massage as if you’re grasping the scalp.

This can help ease muscle tension and pain, providing a pleasant, soothing sensation.

For the shoulder massage, loosen the shoulder muscles with friction as you work.

It may also be a good idea to use a massage cream, but be sure to check for any allergies beforehand.

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mayumi

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High touch rec

Can't stop laughing lol! A high-five recreation that gets everyone excited [Senior brain-training exercise]

A high five is when two people clap each other’s hands, often when greeting brightly or feeling happy.

Let’s turn this high five into a recreation activity that seniors can enjoy.

Have everyone sit in a circle on chairs and high-five the person next to them.

Try high-fiving with just one hand, or flip the hands over to change the palm orientation as you go.

Make the seated circle smaller so people can reach to tap someone’s hand, or do double high fives with both hands.

Thinking about who has a free hand and counting to ten while high-fiving can also help train the brain.

It’s an activity that may spark conversations with people who don’t usually talk and broaden communication.

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Nakajima Junko

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Pikagoro

Senior recreation—guaranteed big laughs! Pikagoro lets you enjoy fun brain training. #RecreationForSeniors #BrainTraining #Easy #Fun #Entertaining

As we age, it’s said that handling multiple tasks at the same time becomes more difficult.

Using both the mind and body has brain-training benefits, and if you move your body while thinking, you can expect even greater brain activation.

This time, I’ll introduce the Pika-Goro game.

Have the older adults sit facing each other, each holding two sticks.

The caller says “pika-pika” or “goro-goro.” On the cue “dokan,” the older adults should both grip the sticks and raise them.

Once everyone gets used to it, calling out “pika-pika” or “goro-goro” several times and then feinting can make it even more exciting.

Funny Gesture Exercises

Recreation (brain training): Seniors smile and do gesture exercises — recommended for day service programs.

A gesture game where you don’t speak, but watch movements and guess the answer.

Because it’s often played on TV shows and at parties, many older adults may already be familiar with it.

In gesture games, you watch the movements, imagine what they mean, and answer.

Imagining is said to help activate the brain.

What’s more, having older adults perform the prompted actions themselves boosts the brain-training effect.

Since you’re getting older adults to move, it’s like gesture exercise.

Expanding prompts from “eating a mandarin” to “peeling and eating a mandarin” also stimulates the imagination.

Adjust the difficulty to suit the older adults.

The more movements you add, the more smiles you’re likely to see.