[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!
- Easy origami that delights the elderly. Enjoy a heart-lifting time with seasonal origami.
- [For Seniors] Perfect Finger Exercises! Seasonal Flower Origami
- [Recreation] Summary of Recommended Origami Ideas for Seniors
- Simple origami that can be folded from a single sheet
- [For Seniors] Easy Construction Paper Crafts Activity
- [For Seniors] Simple Handicrafts Recommended for Finger Exercise
- For Seniors: Simple and Lovely Crafts – A Collection of Take-Home Project Ideas for Day Service
- Recommended for seniors! Origami gifts
- [For Seniors] Easy Origami Recommended for Winter
- [For Seniors] Lovely Crafts Made with Tissue Paper: Ideas Collection
- [For Seniors] Recommended September Origami to Feel the Autumn Season
- [For Seniors] Simple and Fun: Craft Ideas You Can Make with Everyday Items
- [For Seniors] Enjoy Something New Every Day! Today’s Origami
[For Seniors] Fun Origami That Also Serves as Rehabilitation (21–30)
Cactus and flowers
A cactus characterized by prickly spines.
Cacti also bloom in a variety of colors, such as red, yellow, and white.
It varies by species, but they mainly flower from early spring to around summer.
Some older adults may also be growing cacti at home.
Let’s make a potted, flowering cactus out of origami that you can display at home.
Fold along the creases you’ve made to create the pot.
Use accordion folds to add creases, shape, and form the cactus.
Fold a triangle three times, cut off the excess, and make the cactus flower.
Put all the parts together to finish.
Real cacti have flowers in many different colors.
With your origami piece, try making the flowers in whatever colors you like.
Origami Grape Wreath
We’d like to introduce a grape wreath made with origami.
Many older adults enjoy origami, don’t they? One of its charms is that you can make it while seated, so it’s easy to get started.
Since it uses your fingertips a lot, it’s said to stimulate the brain and help prevent dementia.
A fruit-themed project like grapes also makes it easier for seniors to feel the season.
Make the wreath base out of origami as well, then attach the folded grapes.
Seeing something you made displayed on a facility wall or in your own room can be a real joy.
Please use this as inspiration and create a lovely piece!
3D grapes
Let’s make one of autumn’s flavors—grapes—out of origami.
Use a compass or similar tool to cut out round shapes from origami paper.
After making several circles, apply glue and layer them.
The key is to fold each piece of origami paper in half, then attach each half to a different circular piece, one by one.
This creates a spherical shape out of origami.
Connect the spheres together, and they will look like a bunch of grapes.
Using origami paper with dots or patterns can add a cute accent.
Older adults may also enjoy feeling the season of autumn through this grape craft.
Colorful garland
Colorful garlands are items that instantly brighten the atmosphere just by being displayed.
Let’s decorate with garlands to celebrate Respect for the Aged Day! Fold several sheets of origami into accordions and combine them.
To make them easy to hang, attach small pieces to the ends, and you’re done.
Choosing color combinations is where your sense of style shines.
The method is very simple, so it should be fun to make together with seniors.
Add origami flowers and other decorations to enhance the festive mood for Respect for the Aged Day!
Hanging ornament of fans
Because a folding fan spreads out toward the end, it has long been considered a lucky item and is a familiar motif for older adults as well.
How about making a hanging fan decoration for Respect for the Aged Day? Prepare solid-color, traditional Japanese-patterned, and gold origami paper, and cut each to the desired sizes.
After applying glue, accordion-fold them as shown in the video.
Once you’ve made two pieces, stack them and staple the lower part together.
Open and shape them to complete the fan.
Attach a string, and you’ll have a lovely Japanese-style hanging decoration.
Folding fans and paper fans
On Respect for the Aged Day, which comes once a year, you’ll want to brighten the atmosphere with festive decorations.
Why not make fan and paper fan decorations that are perfect for the occasion? The steps are simple, so older adults can enjoy making them easily.
You’ll need patterned and plain origami paper, plus some string.
Glue the patterned and plain sheets together, then accordion-fold them.
Fold the strip in half and glue the center to hold it, and combine two folded pieces to complete a hand fan.
If you combine two of those fans, you’ll have a paper rosette! It’s a very easy craft, but it uses the fingertips a lot, making it great finger exercise for seniors.
Try making them with your favorite patterns!
Decorative celebratory crane
Cranes have long been regarded as symbols of longevity and peace, and they’ve become a beloved, classic motif for celebratory occasions.
Origami cranes—known as “celebration cranes”—make perfect decorations for Respect-for-the-Aged Day.
We’ll fold them using reversible crepe paper you can buy at a 100-yen shop.
The folding process is the same as a standard crane up to a certain point, so it may be easy for older adults to try.
When you open the wings, the gold interior appears, creating a gorgeous celebration crane.
Attach it to a coaster and add decorations with a fan or clay to finish.