[For older adults] Music recreation that helps boost mood and improve health
We’d like to introduce music-based recreational activities that can lift the spirits of older adults.
Listening to favorite songs or singing out loud can provide a change of pace and help relieve stress.
In this article, we present a variety of recreational ideas that use the music we encounter in everyday life.
Along with sing-alongs of children’s songs and simple exercises set to music, we’ve also gathered quiz-style activities that are fun like games.
If you’re planning music recreation for a senior facility or day service setting, please use these ideas as a reference.
- With upbeat rhythm routines! Music therapy for seniors
- [For Seniors] Guaranteed to Liven Things Up! A Collection of Brain Training Activities That Will Spark Laughter
- [For Seniors] Recommended for Recreation! A Collection of Fun and Lively Parody Songs
- [For Seniors] Let’s Have Fun Together! Introducing Uplifting, Energizing Songs
- [Sing for your health!] Popular songs among seniors. Also recommended for recreational activities.
- [For Seniors] Easy and fun seated activities you can do in your room
- Hand games that liven things up for seniors—also great brain training
- [For Seniors] Refresh Your Mood! Lively, Get-Moving Games
- Recreation Activities Effective for Long-Term Care Prevention for Seniors
- [Today's Recommendation] Gentle Health Exercises for Seniors
- [For Seniors] Recreational activities and games that let you have fun while strengthening your legs
- [For Seniors] Recommended Songs for Music Therapy Tailored to Physical and Mental Conditions
- [November Health Topic] Indoor Recreation Ideas for Older Adults
[For Seniors] Music Recreation Activities That Help Improve Mood and Health (61–70)
Rhythmic gymnastics with bean throwing
Bean-throwing is one of the major events in February, isn’t it? Depending on the region, some people throw peanuts or edamame, but in Japan, people have traditionally done bean-throwing on Setsubun in February.
So, we’d like to introduce a rhythm exercise perfect for February: a bean-throwing themed routine.
Move your body to the children’s song “Mamemaki.” Sit in a chair and, while singing, extend your hands and feet forward.
An exercise with a bean-throwing theme can help older adults connect with the current season.
Also, using a familiar song makes it easier for many seniors to join in.
Fall-prevention exercises to the tune of ‘The Highland Train Is Coming’
We will introduce fall-prevention exercises set to the song “Kogen Ressha wa Yuku” (The Highland Train is Coming).
Sit on a chair and slowly lift your toes and heels to move your feet.
When raising your legs so they are parallel to the floor, it’s best to use a stable, fixed chair to avoid falling backward.
Move your legs as if walking, and slowly move your arms along with them.
When bringing your feet and arms back, do so slowly.
Let’s move our bodies to an upbeat song, have fun, and keep smiling.
Rhythmic exercises with carp streamers
Do you know the “ikarano-nami” that appears in the children’s song Koinobori? One theory says that ikarano-nami refers to the wave-like pattern formed by the ridge tiles at the peak of a tiled roof.
When you listen to Koinobori, you can imagine the carp streamers swimming as the waves of clouds and the ikarano-nami overlap.
These days, it seems we don’t sing or hear the version of Koinobori that mentions ikarano-nami as often.
Some older people may find Koinobori nostalgic.
If you do exercises themed around carp streamers, you might be able to feel the season while you move.
Try moving your body to the song’s expansive tune and melody.
Song Exercise Festival
Enjoy it even while seated! Here are ideas for a sing-and-exercise routine to the song “Matsuri.” When you think of summer festivals or evening cool-down festivals, many people imagine Bon Odori, right? This time, let’s move our bodies to the famous song “Matsuri” by the legendary Saburo Kitajima.
The video introduces ideas for movements you can do while sitting! Even subtle motions will loosen up your body if you do them properly—no doubt about it! Sing, dance, and make fun memories.
Season of Love
Let’s perform a dance to Pinky & the Killers’ song “Koi no Kisetsu” for an older adult’s birthday.
Just like Pinky & the Killers, wear a rounded derby hat with a curled brim and dance.
Of course, singing is a great option too.
Both the dance and the song set to “Koi no Kisetsu” are likely to delight seniors.
Some may even have personal memories connected to this song.
As they listen, it might bring back recollections of those days.
It’s a recreation activity that can spark conversation and make the celebration even livelier.
Exercise Song Collection: Masterpieces of the Showa Era
This is an exercise done while seated, moving your body slowly yet deliberately to various classic Showa-era songs.
For “March of 365 Steps,” use big hand movements and marching steps; for “North Country Spring,” switch to finger exercises—change the movements with each song.
As the songs change, the size of the movements will also change, so it’s important to stay mindful of which part of the body to focus on.
While enjoying the rhythm of the music, the most important thing is to concentrate on moving each specific part of your body.
Winter Song Exercises
Sing-along activities are offered in many senior and welfare facilities.
Singing helps relieve stress and, because it moves the mouth, also works as an oral exercise.
Moreover, combining songs with simple exercises—song-exercise routines—stimulates the cerebrum, activates the brain, and can help prevent dementia.
If the exercises use songs people like, even seniors who feel reluctant to move might think, “Maybe I’ll give it a try.” Seasonal songs, such as winter-themed ones, can also help seniors feel the season as they exercise.