[For Seniors] Spice Up Your Usual Oral Exercises! Patakara Exercises and Tongue Twisters
In facilities where older adults live, many residents look forward to mealtimes.
This time, we’re introducing oral exercises that can strengthen chewing and swallowing abilities to help you enjoy meals more.
If your facility already uses such exercises, adding some variations to your usual routine can make it more fun to continue.
If you haven’t started yet, why not try beginning with slower-paced exercises?
By increasing saliva production, you can help prevent aspiration, improve digestive function, and potentially boost appetite!
- [For Seniors] Let's try customizing the usual Pa-Ta-Ka-Ra exercises!
- [For Seniors] Boost Oral Function with Tongue Twisters! Recommended Picks to Try
- [For Seniors] Stay Healthy Through Your Mouth with the A-I-U-BE Exercises!
- [For Seniors] Oral Exercises to Keep Eating Deliciously and Enjoyably
- [For Older Adults] Games to Enhance Oral Function: Enjoyable and Easy to Do
- [Recommended for seniors] Rejuvenating Rock-Paper-Scissors Exercise
- Tongue twisters that will make you laugh out loud! Super funny
- [For Seniors] Guaranteed to Liven Things Up! A Collection of Brain Training Activities That Will Spark Laughter
- Energetic and Lively! Sing-and-Exercise Program for Seniors
- With upbeat rhythm routines! Music therapy for seniors
- Hand games that liven things up for seniors—also great brain training
- A Food Quiz for Seniors to Make Eating More Enjoyable
- For Seniors: Fun and Lively Exercise Recreation
[For Seniors] Spice Up Your Usual Oral Exercises! Pa-Ta-Ka-Ra Drills and Tongue Twisters (41–50)
Gymnastics with hand gestures
Let’s try adding hand movements to the Patakara oral exercises.
The hand movements are coordinated with the mouth movements for “pa-ta-ka-ra.” For example, you can’t pronounce “pa” without closing your lips.
To strengthen this lip-closing action, add a hand gesture that matches the mouth shape for “pa.” For “pa,” make your hand a fist like “rock” in rock–paper–scissors, then open it to “paper” at the same time you voice the sound.
By adding hand movements, even older adults can become more aware of their mouth movements.
The Patakara oral exercises not only train the muscles used for eating, but also enrich facial expressions and help people enjoy conversations with others.
You can also customize them, such as by adding hand movements while producing the sounds continuously.
In conclusion
This time, we introduced fun tongue twisters and the Pa-Ta-Ka-La exercises set to songs. As your chewing and swallowing abilities improve, you’ll be able to enjoy mealtimes even more. In addition to your usual oral exercises before meals, try adding these variations and have fun with them.