[October Health Topic] Introducing Recreational Activities for Seniors!
In October, when the mild weather continues, many older adults may feel like getting more active.
So this time, we’re introducing recreational activities perfect for seniors in October.
We’ve gathered a wide range of ideas, from exercises you can do seated indoors to crafts that evoke the spirit of October.
In addition to helping prevent falls, exercise is said to stimulate the brain, promote activation, and may also help prevent dementia.
We hope these October health ideas bring smiles to older adults.
Move your body without overexertion, and use fine motor activities to support brain training.
- [For Senior Care Facilities] Fun! Recommended Events for October
- [November Health Topic] Indoor Recreation Ideas for Older Adults
- [May Health Topic] Introducing recreational activities for seniors!
- September Health Topic: Introducing Recreational Activities That Capture the Feeling of Autumn’s Arrival
- For Seniors: Simple and Fun! November Recreation Ideas
- [March Health Topic] Introducing Recreational Activities for Seniors!
- [For Seniors] Recreation Games Related to October Events
- [For Seniors] Fun Autumn Activities: Recreation Games
- For Seniors: Easy Crafts Recommended for October
- [For Seniors] Let’s have fun with October trivia and fun facts quizzes!
- [For Seniors] Introducing Recreational Activities Anyone Can Enjoy at Geriatric Health Facilities!
- [For Seniors] Leg and lower-back training: Fall prevention
- [For Seniors] Simple Tabletop Games: Fun and Engaging Recreational Activities
[October Health Topic] Introducing Recreational Activities for Older Adults! (51–60)
Ball-Picking Game
When April comes, the weather becomes mild and there are more pleasantly warm days, don’t you think? It’s also a time when it’s easier to move your body, so why not have some fun with a simple game? Here’s a ball-collecting game that uses lots of balls.
Roll many balls across a table toward older adults seated in chairs.
The seated participants holding containers will pick up the balls as they roll toward them.
Since it can be done while seated, it’s accessible for those who have difficulty standing or for older adults who use wheelchairs.
Popcorn Game
Even if you know that moving your body is good for your health, you might still feel reluctant to get active.
So here’s a fun popcorn game that lets you exercise your feet while enjoying yourself.
Sit in a chair and place paper plates on both knees.
Fill the plates with lots of crumpled-up paper balls.
Think of the paper plates as frying pans and the crumpled paper as popcorn for the game.
When someone says, “Ready, start!”, flutter your legs and march your feet to shake the paper popcorn out of the plates.
Watching the crumpled paper fall from the plates looks just like popcorn popping in a heated frying pan.
Because it’s an exercise you can do like a game, it seems like older adults can enjoy participating too.
Animal sound brain training
It’s a game where you read the written name of an animal, think about which sound that animal makes, and answer.
It tests your ability to connect memories—how quickly you can imagine the sound from the animal’s name.
Start by checking which animal makes which sound, then move on to the letter chart.
Because you can reach the answer by thinking carefully, it’s also important to be mindful of speed.
The process of thinking from the written word and then saying it aloud helps activate the brain.
Giant Triangular Tower
It’s a very simple game, but actually tricky! Try the newspaper tower challenge! Lay a sheet of newspaper lengthwise and fold it so it becomes a quarter of its original width.
Next, fold it into a triangular prism shape and tuck in the end.
Because it stores flat once folded, you can make it once and play again and again, which is nice.
The rules for the newspaper tower are simple: stack the triangular pieces of newspaper on top of each other and compete to see how many you can pile up.
People watching should call out instructions like, “A little to the right, left, it’s leaning!” This also helps promote communication.
[October Health Topic] Introducing Recreational Activities for Seniors! (61–70)
Newspaper Rock-Paper-Scissors
It’s sure to be an exciting match! Try the Newspaper Janken challenge! Have two older adults sit facing each other.
Place a long, narrow strip of newspaper on the table, then play rock-paper-scissors.
The winner tries to grab the newspaper, while the loser must hold it down so it can’t be taken.
By the way, if the newspaper tears, you lose.
It’s a brain-engaging activity where you play janken, instantly recognize the outcome, and act immediately.
Recreations that use both mind and body stimulate the brain and can help prevent dementia.
Enjoy a fun time laughing together with other participants.
Towel relay with newspaper
Here are two games that use newspapers and are great for getting a large group excited.
The first is the Newspaper Towel Relay.
Have older adults sit in a circle, and use a long, rolled-up newspaper stick to pass a towel to the person next to them.
The person who receives it last should throw their hands up and shout to signal the goal.
The second is the Towel Catch Game.
The person holding the towel throws it toward a teammate, and the teammate catches it with a newspaper stick.
The thrower needs to control the strength of their throw, and the receiver needs to imagine where it will fly in order to catch it well.
Recreational activities that get lots of people involved can spark conversations between those who don’t usually interact.
Enjoy these activities that help expand your circle.
Newspaper juggling
Let’s enjoy a fun fall-prevention activity with chopstick-and-newspaper ring juggling! Take a sheet of newspaper and crumple it tightly from one edge, twisting it into a long, thin rod, then form it into a ring.
Firmly secure the joint by compressing it well or fixing it with cellophane tape.
Once your ring is ready, grab a pair of chopsticks and spin the ring around.
The keys are smooth wrist rotations and adjusting how much force you use.
Be careful not to spin too fast, or it may fly off.
This recreation also helps stimulate the brain, making it perfect for activities in senior care facilities.
Give it a try!