[For older adults] Music recreation that helps boost mood and improve health

Patakara exercises with the song ‘Back-to-Back Height Comparison’

A little pre-meal spell♪ Patakara oral exercises!! #shorts #elderly #oralExercises #seniorActivities #dayService #May #Children’sDay #MomoChans

Here’s an idea for mouth exercises using the well-known children’s song “Sekkura-be.” It’s very simple: just change the song’s lyrics to the sounds pa-ta-ka-ra and sing them out loud.

If you’re doing this in a senior care facility, it may be easier to first sing the original song once and then switch to pa-ta-ka-ra.

It’s also helpful to write the lyrics on a whiteboard or print them on paper so everyone can see them.

Doing this before meals can be especially effective in preventing choking, and practicing every day can lead to even better results.

Please give it a try!

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kojifumi

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music therapy

Uplifting Music Therapy ♪ [Good Time Living Saitama Hasuda]

Listening to music can be relaxing.

The enjoyment of singing or performing is also one of music’s charms.

It’s said that for older adults, listening to music can provide a change of pace and help reduce anxiety.

So why not incorporate music therapy into recreational activities? Since it can be done seated and in time with the music, people with hemiplegia or those who have difficulty standing can also participate.

Singing together and playing instruments as a group can encourage cooperation and promote communication.

It’s also recommended to move your body gently to the music, within a comfortable range.

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Nakajima Junko

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Song sung at the beginning of the meeting

365-Step March: Singing Exercise [Light Recreation Exercise for Cognitive Training and Senior Care Prevention]

Let’s try doing exercises while singing to kick off events and recreational activities.

If you use exercise routines set to music familiar to older adults, it’s easier for them to participate.

It also helps them recognize that the event or activity is about to begin.

Singing alone is fine, but adding exercises stimulates the brain and can help prevent cognitive decline.

The key is to incorporate movements inspired by the lyrics.

Visualizing the mood and scenes in the lyrics and recalling corresponding movements can also provide brain-training benefits.

Be sure to choose songs that older adults know, and add some exercises too.

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Nakajima Junko

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The Itomaki (Spool Winding) Song Using Rubber Bands

The Itomaki Song using rubber bands [An exercise activity for seniors!]

This exercise aims to make finger movements smoother by stretching a rubber band with both hands and moving it from finger to finger.

Maintaining strength is important to keep the band well stretched, so sustaining effort while moving adds complexity that also helps stimulate the brain.

If you coordinate the movement of shifting the rubber band with a song—such as the children’s song “Ito Maki”—and proceed rhythmically, it will further improve smoothness.

We also recommend starting with patterns that move the band to the same finger on both hands, then gradually shifting the positions to make the patterns more complex over time.

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kappamaki

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Brown kobin hand clap

“Brown Little Bottle” — Try the Rhythm Clapping Challenge!

Let us introduce the brown Kobin hand-clap that follows the rhythm.

Clap on “Pan,” and take a rest on “Un.” The tempo changes a little partway through the rhythm.

The number of claps also changes to match the tempo.

Clapping along while listening to the rhythm helps refresh both body and mind and fosters communication with those around you.

It’s an activity you can enjoy while seated, so please give it a try.

It’s also recommended to use small instruments like bells while doing it.

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mayumi

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Brain-training exercises with nursery rhymes

How about this for your morning exercise? Brain-training recreation exercises to the tune of “Antagata Dokosa” [Exercise]

Brain-training exercises using children’s songs are perfect for older adults because they can move their bodies enjoyably to nostalgic melodies.

Since these are songs they’ve known since childhood, it’s easy to hum along naturally.

Moving the hands and feet while singing can help invigorate both mind and body.

Incorporating rock–paper–scissors-type hand motions provides even more beneficial stimulation for the brain.

Doing the exercises together while speaking up to one another also promotes communication—two birds with one stone.

Staff should join in the fun and actively offer encouraging words as well.

Hanagasa Ondo, a dance performed with fans in hand

One-Hand Dance 🌟 Remake of “Hanagasa Ondo” — Dance beautifully with one hand. Prepare a fan (uchiwa).

The Yamagata Hanagasa Festival is held in Yamagata during the summer.

As one of the four major festivals of the Tohoku region, it reportedly attracts about one million visitors from inside and outside the prefecture.

Dancers don hanagasa hats and perform along to the song “Hanagasa Ondo.” Why not try bringing this summer festival from Yamagata Prefecture into senior care facilities as well? You can substitute the hanagasa with a uchiwa fan for the dance.

Using a fan allows you to express movements that look graceful and elegant with either one hand or both.

The dance can be done while seated, and its gentle motions are likely to bring smiles to the faces of older adults.

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Nakajima Junko

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