[For Seniors] Recommended Songs for Music Therapy Tailored to Physical and Mental Conditions
Music is something we can’t live without, isn’t it?
Many people find that listening to upbeat songs mysteriously lifts their mood.
In particular, in senior care facilities, music therapy is used to support physical and mental rehabilitation.
Try choosing songs that match the physical and mental condition of older adults and use them in recreational activities.
In this article, we’ve gathered many songs that are familiar to seniors.
If you’re unsure which songs to use in music therapy, please use this as a reference.
- [For Seniors] Let’s Have Fun Together! Introducing Uplifting, Energizing Songs
- [Sing for your health!] Popular songs among seniors. Also recommended for recreational activities.
- Great songs recommended for people in their 80s: a collection of tracks with lyrics that touch the heart
- [For Seniors] Simple Rhythm Exercises: Recommended Songs and Routines
- With upbeat rhythm routines! Music therapy for seniors
- [For older adults] Music recreation that helps boost mood and improve health
- Also great for dementia care! Recommended dance songs for people in their 70s: Let’s dance to those classic hits
- [For Seniors] Recommended Karaoke Songs for Women in Their 80s
- Recommended Songs for Nursing Home Recreation [Fun Exercise, Soothing Songs]
- [Celebration] A compilation of Japanese songs that elderly people will enjoy
- [Recommended for people in their 70s] Songs that really move you. Beloved classic Japanese hits of the past.
- [For women in their 70s] A collection of songs that are easy to sing even for people who are tone-deaf
- [For Seniors] Recommended for Recreation! A Collection of Fun and Lively Parody Songs
[For Older Adults] Recommended Songs for Music Therapy Tailored to Physical and Mental Conditions (21–30)
Plover on the BeachSakushi: Kashima Naruaki / Sakkyoku: Hirota Ryūtarō
The work that richly portrays a plover crying as it searches for its parents on a blue moonlit beach was first introduced to the world by Meishū Kashima and Ryūtarō Hirota in the New Year’s issue of the magazine Shōjo-gō in 1919.
It poetically depicts a bird born from the realm of waves, with wet wings of silver, crossing the sea in search of its parents and vanishing into the land of moonlight.
It is said that behind this piece lies Meishū Kashima’s feelings for the parents from whom he was separated early in life, giving the song a profound content that symbolizes the bond between parent and child and the sorrow of parting.
Although classified as a children’s song, it is also appreciated as a lyric song, and its calm, gentle melody beautifully colors the seaside scenery.
It’s perfect for those who wish to sing while reminiscing about the past, or for moments when you want to feel the changing of the seasons.
Ochara-ka-hoi
By moving your body to the lyrics of the traditional hand-clapping song “Ocharaka Hoi,” it quickly turns into a game that stimulates the brain.
For example, during “Ses-ses-se,” place your hands on your back, and during the “Yoi-yoi-yoi” part, have your right hand represent 4 and your left hand represent 1, alternating the gestures.
Adding these actions engages memory, attention, and decision-making at the same time.
Performing multiple movements simultaneously like this is effective in preventing cognitive decline.
It can be done while seated and doesn’t depend on the number of participants.
It’s easy to introduce in care settings and is a type of brain training that people can continue without getting bored.
Momotaro
We’d like to introduce a hand-play activity idea called “Momotaro” that uses time for singing, moving your body, and sharing joyful laughter.
All you do is move your hands to a nostalgic melody, so it’s easy to join in even while seated and is popular with older adults.
For those who find it hard to speak, the song can help soften their expressions naturally and become a starting point for conversation.
Alternating open-and-close motions of the left and right hands while singing stimulates the brain and is expected to help prevent cognitive decline.
It can be enjoyed by small groups or entire groups together and is used as a place for social interaction.
It’s a simple yet profound idea that lets you rediscover the power of hand-play activities.
Tokyo Boogie-WoogieKasaogi Shizuko
This classic song by Shizuko Kasagi, a major influence on the Showa-era music scene, stands as a landmark of Japanese pop that brought brightness and vitality to postwar Japan.
Set to the buoyant rhythm of boogie-woogie, it paints a heart-thumping world filled with the joy and hope of youth.
Released by Nippon Columbia in January 1948, it became a record-breaking hit, selling 270,000 copies in its first year.
Its inclusion in the film Drunken Angel helped it win affection across a wide audience.
Etched in people’s hearts alongside memories of the Showa period, this work has the power to evoke nostalgic recollections.
It’s likely to be a treasured song to hum together with older listeners, sharing the happy memories of those days.
There’s always tomorrowSakamoto Kyu
This song conveys a positive message about moving forward with an upbeat, cheerful melody, and Kyu Sakamoto’s warm vocals make a strong impression.
Even when things don’t go well, it celebrates the strength to never give up, sung with a refreshing voice full of energy.
Released as a single in December 1963, it was also used as the theme song for a Nippon TV variety show.
At the time of its release, it sold over 800,000 copies and has continued to be loved across generations, later even appearing in Kyoiku Shuppan’s music textbooks.
This work is recommended for older listeners who wish to spend a heartwarming moment wrapped in nostalgia.
It would be wonderful to hum along, immersed in memories, while being enveloped by Kyu Sakamoto’s gentle singing voice.
BoyhoodInoue Yosui
This song is wrapped in a nostalgic, gentle melody.
Together with Yosui Inoue’s characteristically tender vocals, it brings back memories of a pure and innocent childhood.
It might even spark lively conversations about cherished childhood memories.
Released in September 1990, the song drew major attention as the theme for the Toho film of the same name.
In 1991, it was used in a commercial for Sony’s “Handycam 105,” reaching No.
4 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
It is also included on the album Handsome Boy and has been loved by many for years.
It’s a great choice for music recreation with seniors, offering an approachable tune that anyone can hum along to.
The Hill Where Mandarin Orange Blossoms Bloom
Clap hands alternately while facing each other as you sing.
Even such a simple movement can instantly turn into enjoyable communication when done to a song.
Moving your hands to the gentle melody of “Mikan no Saku Oka” stimulates the brain and helps prevent cognitive decline.
It can be done while seated, reducing physical strain, and it’s an easy activity for those who struggle to find a way to start a conversation.
This low-pressure hand game fosters interaction even in care settings and is perfect for daily recreation.