[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 (1–10) That Help Improve Mood and Health
round (canon)NEW!
A round is a method of singing where you divide the singers into two or more groups and have them sing the same song with staggered entries.
It’s the same piece, but it creates a different kind of harmony than when everyone sings together.
The key point to watch out for is not getting pulled along by another group.
If you don’t keep track of your own cue and where you are in the song, you’ll end up following another group and won’t be able to get back.
For the starting cue, it’s a good idea for a staff member to give a “ready, go” signal.
danceNEW!
Dancing to music, moving your body in time, is a perfect sport for socializing and maintaining health.
Movements like following the music and learning choreography also serve as brain training.
If you’re worried because of pain in your legs or lower back, it might be good to start by sitting and focusing on hand and arm movements.
When you dance, prepare non-slip shoes and start at a comfortable pace, taking breaks as needed.
Enjoying dance while communicating with friends may naturally lift your spirits and make you feel more positive.
ballroom danceNEW!
Social dancing, which lets seniors move their bodies while having fun, is great for health and perfect for anyone looking to start something new.
It’s easy for beginners to get into and also offers chances to enjoy interacting with others.
If you find it hard to keep exercising alone, you might find it easier—and more enjoyable—with companions.
Social dance has real depth, and many people find themselves hooked before they know it.
Even if you start on a whim, it might just become a lifelong hobby.
[For Seniors] Music Recreation Activities That Help Improve Mood and Health (11–20)
Brain training with song! Clap your hands at the designated spots in “Furusato.”
They say that doing two or more things at the same time stimulates the brain.
With this activity, you can enjoy it while adding several actions besides just singing.
While singing, you clap your hands when you reach the designated syllables in the Japanese syllabary.
Because you’re consciously doing three things—singing, thinking, and clapping—it’s quite challenging.
One-Letter Parody Song: “Osaru no Kagoya” (The Monkey Palanquin)
“One-Letter Parody Songs” are a classic and highly recommended brain-training recreation.
For example, take the song ‘Osaru no Kagoya’ and try singing it with every ‘sa’ replaced by ‘chi.’ It’s simple, but getting through the whole song without mistakes is surprisingly difficult.
You can also enjoy many variations by choosing a longer song or changing which character you swap.
Passing objects while singing
Everyone sits in a circle and passes a beanbag or ball to the person next to them—but doing it as-is can be dull, so let’s pass it along to the rhythm while singing! Keep the beat, pass it properly to your neighbor, and if you make it to the end of the song without dropping it, you’ve succeeded.
Since you’re moving both hands while singing, it also helps stimulate the brain.
Song guessing quiz
The “Guess the Lyrics” quiz is super simple! As long as you have a whiteboard and a pen, you can play it anywhere right away.
You pick out clue words from a song’s lyrics and write them down one by one, and the others try to guess the song.
You can adjust the difficulty freely by adding more clues as you watch how the players are doing or by choosing clearer words.