[For Seniors] Fun Origami That Also Works as Rehabilitation
Origami is also being incorporated into rehabilitation for the elderly.
The process of folding, which engages the mind and uses the fingertips, appears to provide moderate stimulation to the brain and help activate it.
So this time, we’ll introduce origami that can be expected to have positive effects for rehabilitation.
We’ve gathered pieces with simple steps that are easy for older adults to try, as well as origami you can play with once it’s finished!
Origami offers a sense of accomplishment when a piece is completed, and because it’s familiar to many seniors, it can be enjoyed across generations.
Some older adults may find it difficult at first.
However, once they get used to it, gradually increasing the difficulty should make it even more enjoyable!
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[For Seniors] Enjoyable Origami That Also Serves as Rehabilitation (101–110)
Three-dimensional water lilies
Water lilies blooming in ponds and marshes in parks and temples have a dreamy atmosphere.
During the flowering season, some older adults may go to view them as well.
Because they evoke an image of water, they’re a perfect flower for June origami projects.
Water lilies are known for their distinctive petals, which can be long and slender or rounded.
If you fold the origami first and then cut, you can create beautiful petals.
Layer the petal pieces to complete the water lily flower.
You can also make leaves out of origami and place them with the flower.
It’s also recommended to stick them on a June calendar.
Hydrangeas and a snail
Here’s a lovely idea featuring beautifully colorful hydrangeas and a little snail.
First, prepare small sheets of origami paper.
If you don’t have small ones, you can quarter a standard sheet to make the same size.
Crease the paper, secure it with a stapler, then open it up to form a flower.
Once you’ve made about ten, gather the flowers and glue them together.
If you attach them closely, you can create a full, realistic hydrangea look.
With such pretty hydrangeas, even the snail seems to be having fun.
Even on gloomy, rain-prone days, this decoration will brighten up your room—so give it a try!
After the rain
When the gentle rains of the rainy season stop, it lifts your spirits.
Of course, it’s also a life-giving rain, and the rainy season is an important time, so there are people who welcome it too.
How about expressing a little scene unique to June’s stretch of rainy days with origami? Here’s an origami craft inspired by the clearing after rain.
Try making a closed umbrella, hydrangeas, and teru-teru bozu.
The finished pieces will look lovely as wall decorations or mounted on a backing sheet.
Older adults can also feel the season through making these crafts, and their rainy-season stories might make for lively conversation.
a flower bouquet
A bouquet of colorful flowers conveys a happy vibe and feels perfect for spring.
This project shows how to make those flowers with origami, then bundle them into a colorful, three-dimensional bouquet.
The key is how each flower is made: first crease it by folding toward the center, then use those creases as guides to shape it so the petals open up.
You’ll be making many fine creases, so some wrinkles will appear along the way—but that might also add to the flowers’ softness.
Try using different origami papers and aim for a bright, colorful bouquet.
A simple flower made with an accordion fold
When we think of spring, we often picture lush natural landscapes, with flowers we don’t even know the names of blooming everywhere.
This piece is about creating those vibrant, colorful spring flowers using combinations of origami.
The process is to accordion-fold the paper, then fold the whole piece in half and round off the edges with a cut.
After that, open it up, connect the pieces, and shape them into a circle.
By changing the colors of the origami or varying the sizes, let’s create a colorful flower field.
[For Seniors] Enjoyable Origami That Also Serves as Rehabilitation (111–120)
butterfly
In May, when warm days continue, you’ll often see new buds opening and flowers blooming.
You may also spot butterflies flitting around flower beds in fields and parks.
Let’s make spring-heralding butterflies with origami.
We’ll create a butterfly by combining two sheets folded in an accordion (fan) style.
By adjusting the folding method, you can make the reverse side look like a pattern on the butterfly.
The steps are simple, so many older adults should find it approachable.
And as they work, they can also enjoy the feeling of spring.
Once finished, try hanging them up or decorating a wall with them.
Hanging ornaments
We’d like to introduce a lovely spring hanging decoration that gently sways in the breeze.
You can make it with just origami paper and string, so it’s perfect for craft activities in senior care facilities.
Prepare both solid-colored and patterned origami paper, cut three circles of each, and fold them in half.
Glue the solid and patterned halves alternately, attach them to a string, and your temari ball is finished.
Next, fold three sheets of origami paper in half vertically, stack and glue them together, then draw a pencil outline so it forms a cherry blossom shape and cut it out.
When you open it, you’ll have a symmetrical flower.
Snip small cuts into the petals to make it look like a sakura blossom, then attach it to the string to complete the piece.
Gazing at your hanging decoration while feeling the warm spring breeze is sure to bring a peaceful moment.
