[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 (111–120)
Kintaro
On Children’s Day in May, many households display Kintaro dolls.
They are put up with the wish that children will grow up kind and lively like Kintaro.
So for a May origami craft, let’s try folding Kintaro.
If you fold the face, hair, and body with separate sheets of origami paper, you can create a piece that looks just like the real Kintaro.
The folds aren’t very complicated and are simple enough that older adults may also find this project easy to do.
Adding an origami carp streamer to the finished piece or mounting it on a backing board for display will make it look wonderful.
Koi carp streamers leaping
When you think of koinobori, many of you probably picture them swimming energetically across the sky.
This time, we’ll introduce an origami koinobori craft with a lively, dynamic look.
You’ll make the body and head using two sheets of origami paper.
The finished piece looks as if it’s leaping, just like a real koinobori.
Using patterned paper enhances the koinobori’s feel even more.
For older adults, making koinobori may bring back memories of Children’s Day and the Boys’ Festival.
Once finished, you can attach a stick to make a tabletop koinobori, or paste it onto a wreath for display—there are many ways to enjoy your creation.
Koinobori and wisteria flowers
Wisteria flowers reach their best viewing time from the end of April.
You may have opportunities to go see them with older adults.
Some seniors might look forward to the purple wisteria trellises every year.
Here, we introduce wisteria—the flower that represents May—and carp streamers (koinobori) decorations.
We’ll make wisteria and koinobori out of origami.
There are some steps with fine folds, so seniors who enjoy origami are likely to have fun with this craft.
Once the wisteria and koinobori are finished, attach them to a paper plate.
If you paste a sheet with a sky pattern in the center of the plate, it will look like the koinobori are swimming in the sky.
Cutting out the center of the paper plate to make it into a wreath shape is also lovely.
Carp streamers with plump, scaly patterns
Here is a carp streamer (koinobori) you can display indoors at your facility.
Many places change their wall decorations each month, don’t they? Some older adults seem to feel the season through wall decorations related to the month’s representative events and celebrations.
Seeing koinobori decorations may remind them of Children’s Day in May and the Boys’ Festival (Tango no Sekku).
A koinobori with charmingly plump scales is fun not only to make but also just to look at.
The puffy scales, made with two sheets of origami paper, aren’t difficult, so many older adults should be able to create them.
By admiring the wonderful koinobori they made themselves, they can also feel a sense of accomplishment.
Gift Frame
Here’s an introduction to a carp-streamer gift frame that can hold photos or sweets.
Fold two sheets of origami using the same steps, layer them, and you’ll create a single frame.
The folding process doesn’t have many complicated parts, so it may be easy for older adults to try.
It also looks lovely if you place patterned origami inside the frame.
Shape the frame itself like a carp streamer and pop in a photo or some treats.
When adding sweets, we recommend using a clear bag.
On Children’s Day, some grandparents may have their grandchildren visit at home.
Putting sweets in the gift frame and giving it to your grandchild is sure to delight them.
Koinobori made with paper cores
Here’s a cute carp streamer craft using paper tubes.
After you finish a roll of toilet paper or kitchen paper, you’re left with the cardboard tube.
These tubes are usually made of thick paper, and their cylindrical shape makes them perfect for crafting.
Cover the tube with origami paper in colors like red or blue, then cut the tail fin.
Use round stickers to make the eyes and scales and stick them on.
You can display the piece on a wall at this stage.
For an extra touch, punch a hole and insert a chopstick so it can stand upright.
It’s also nice to display in seniors’ rooms.
The shape of the paper tube beautifully captures the rounded form of a carp streamer.
Pochi-bukuro (small decorative envelope for gifting money)
Let’s try making a small money envelope (pochibukuro) shaped like a carp streamer (koinobori).
In many older adults’ households, people still raise koinobori or display samurai helmets (kabuto) for the Boys’ Festival in May, don’t they? Since the Boys’ Festival and Children’s Day fall during Golden Week, it’s also a time when grandchildren or relatives’ children might gather.
In such situations, it would be nice to give them a gift tucked into a handmade koinobori pochibukuro.
The steps to make the envelopes aren’t complicated, so they should be easy for older adults to create as well.
Plus, handmade pochibukuro can be threaded onto a string to make a garland, so they can also be used as indoor decorations.