[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.
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[For Seniors] Music Recreation Activities That Help Boost Mood and Improve Health (41–50)
Hometown: A song-and-exercise routine that livens things up with three movements
Move your hands to the melody of the children’s song “Furusato,” and stimulate your brain not only through the hand movements but also by visualizing your hometown.
The flow is two claps followed by forming a number with your hands, thinking ahead to the next number while keeping the rhythm of the song in mind.
After making a 5 with both hands, the count returns to 1, so this is where you should focus carefully and aim for smoother movements.
Once you get used to it, we also recommend increasing the speed to further improve concentration.
The Itomaki (Spool Winding) Song Using Rubber Bands
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.
Rhythmic exercises with pop songs
Doing rhythmic exercises to kayōkyoku (Japanese popular songs) is fun, isn’t it? We use well-loved tunes like “Aoi Sanmyaku,” popular among seniors, and step in place or clap along while singing.
The bright melodies naturally bring smiles.
Because you move your body to the rhythm, it’s perfect for addressing a lack of exercise.
You can do it seated or standing—either is fine.
Let’s enjoy moving our bodies within a comfortable range.
Humming the lyrics while moving your hands and feet may also help stimulate the brain.
If everyone enjoys it together, both mind and body can feel more energized.
Finger exercises with kayōkyoku (Japanese pop songs)
Finger exercises set to kayōkyoku (Japanese popular songs) sound like so much fun.
Moving your fingers while listening to nostalgic tunes seems like a great way to refresh both body and mind.
If the songs are familiar, older adults might naturally fall into the rhythm.
By moving the fingertips, it also seems possible to maintain dexterity.
It might be good to start with slower-tempo songs and gradually challenge faster ones.
If everyone enjoys it together, the conversation will flow and smiles will abound.
The power of music is wonderful, isn’t it?
Singing game of “Antagata Dokosa”
Some older adults may have memories of playing ball games to the temari song “Antagata Dokosa.” Here’s a finger play that matches the “Antagata Dokosa” song.
Make a gun shape and a fox shape with your fingers to match the imagery in the lyrics.
To the melody, alternate the finger shapes between left and right.
Once you get used to it, try speeding up the tempo.
In addition to moving your fingers, taking on tasks that feel “a bit difficult” is also said to activate the brain.
Patakara exercises with butterflies
We’d like to share an idea for training oral functions—such as chewing strength and swallowing ability—set to the well-known children’s song “Butterfly” (Chōchō).
The method is very simple: just replace the lyrics with the sounds pa-ta-ka-ra and sing along.
Because it’s a short song, you can do it anytime, anywhere, without worrying about the setting.
Doing it before meals serves as a warm-up for the mouth and helps prevent aspiration, so timing it before eating makes it even more effective.
Consistency is important, so please try to do it once a day.
Convert “Furusato” with the Patakara method
The song “Furusato” is a school song every Japanese person knows.
This time, we’d like to share an idea for a Patakara exercise using this song.
It’s very simple to do: just replace all the lyrics with the sounds pa-ta-ka-ra and sing.
Because you sing in the order of pa-ta-ka-ra, there’s no need to memorize the lyrics, and since it’s a familiar tune for everyone, you don’t need any equipment and can do it anywhere.
By adding a little twist to your usual exercise, you can participate with a fresh feeling while keeping the same benefits.
Give it a try!