[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 (131–140)
Bee
April, when we can feel the warmth, is also the time when insects become active.
It’s a season when many flowers bloom, so you’ll often see bees flying around fields and meadows.
Bees can seem scary because they sting, but how about cute honeybees? Some older adults might enjoy folding them with origami.
We’ll fold the face and body using separate sheets of paper.
Giving the overall shape a round look will make the piece feel cuter.
Add antennae and wings, and don’t forget to draw the black stripes that are characteristic of bees.
You can display it on the wall together with flower crafts, or attach it to other pieces like a wreath—both are recommended.
Rose wall hanging
We’d like to introduce an original rose wall decoration made by rolling paper.
Prepare colored paper for the flowers and leaves.
For the flower, take a strip of colored paper cut thinly: randomly pleat (accordion-fold) two-thirds of the strip, leaving the remaining one-third unpleated.
Starting from the unpleated end, roll the paper; when you finish rolling, glue the end to secure it, and the flower is complete.
For the leaves, similarly roll thin strips of colored paper from one end, glue to secure, then pinch and shape them with your fingers.
For the stem, cut a long, narrow strip and lightly roll it to add a gentle curve.
Arrange and glue the flowers, stems, and leaves onto your choice of backing or base, balancing the layout, and you’re done in no time! Since there are no difficult steps, this craft can also be used as finger dexterity training in senior care facilities.
Newspaper Pull-Out Game
It’s a game where you quickly pull out a long, rolled-up strip of newspaper at a signal and compete on speed.
Making it a head-to-head match boosts the urge to move faster than your opponent, effectively training explosive power and large arm movements.
A key rule is that tearing the paper counts as a fail, which encourages players to focus not only on speed but also on delicate fingertip control.
It can also be fun to try repeatedly and think about arm movements and postures that make pulling smoother.
Newspaper Stick Holder
Let me introduce “newspaper stick toss,” where you throw a stick made by rolling up newspaper and try to get it in before your opponent! It’s not just about throwing—aiming carefully at a target gives your brain a good workout.
You also have to pick up the newspapers after throwing them, which means walking, squatting, and doing various movements.
They may seem casual, but they can be surprisingly tiring.
It might also be fun to create roles like throwers and pickers and hold a team competition.
Newspaper Ring Relay
This is a game where team members stand in a single line holding hands and pass a ring made from newspaper along the linked hands.
Because you hook the ring by moving your joined hands, teamwork and syncing your timing with the person next to you are important.
Since you can’t move your hands freely, you tend to tense your arms, so it not only trains focus and speed on the ring, but also works the upper body, especially the arms.
You can make it more challenging by using a smaller newspaper ring and other tweaks, which boosts concentration even further—highly recommended.
Cherry Blossoms in the Moonlit Night
Cherry blossoms at night have a different kind of beauty from those seen during the day, don’t they? In daylight, the blossoms look delicately charming with their cute pink petals.
But under moonlight or illumination, they give off a more mature atmosphere.
Here’s a perfect wall decoration idea featuring night-time cherry blossoms for seniors who love yozakura.
Choose darker construction paper for the background of the cherry trees and blossoms, and add a moon to create a night-sakura scene.
As they make the blossoms, seniors will likely feel the arrival of spring.
Looking at the finished piece, they may appreciate the beauty of night cherry blossoms and even reminisce about their past cherry blossom memories.
Sakura Japanese-style ornament
Cherry trees color Japan’s spring.
Seeing the cherry blossoms in full bloom in parks and other places gives you a sense of seasonal charm, doesn’t it? Let’s make a Japanese-style cherry blossom decoration that captures that feeling of spring.
Use three sheets of origami in different sizes, accordion-fold them, apply glue, and connect them.
Create a three-dimensional cherry blossom out of origami.
Because it’s three-dimensional, some steps are quite detailed.
Older adults who enjoy origami will likely have fun making it.
If the finer parts are difficult, people around them should lend a hand.
Assemble the cherry blossom petals and place them on the accordion-folded origami to finish.
It will look lovely displayed at home.