[For Seniors] Enjoy safely even during the COVID-19 pandemic: Seated activities
In this article, we introduce recreation activities you can enjoy safely even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At day service centers and other senior facilities, a variety of recreational activities are held every day.
However, during periods when COVID-19 and other infectious diseases are spreading, worries are never-ending.
So we’ve gathered activities that can be enjoyed while maintaining distance—such as those for small groups or done in turns.
What’s more, they can all be done while seated, making them enjoyable for wheelchair users and those who are unsteady standing.
You may also find that more people will casually join in, thinking, “If it’s something I can do while sitting, I’ll give it a try.”
Please use these ideas as a reference for your daily recreation programs.
- [For Seniors] Simple Recreational Activities You Can Enjoy While Seated
- [For Seniors] Fun Recreational Activities Without Equipment
- [For Seniors] Simple Tabletop Games: Fun and Engaging Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Easy and fun seated activities you can do in your room
- [For Seniors] Recreational activities and games that let you have fun while strengthening your legs
- For Seniors: Effective Recreation for Preventing Care Needs—Have Fun While Staying Healthy
- [For Seniors] Refresh Your Mood! Lively, Get-Moving Games
- [For Seniors] Enjoyable Indoor Activities! Recreations and Games That Engage the Mind and Body
- [For Seniors] Recreational Activities Enjoyable in Large Groups
- [For Seniors] Fun Small-Group Recreation
- [For Seniors] Exciting Team-Based Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Enjoy the Cold Winter! Seated Activities You Can Do
- [For Seniors] Enjoyment at Day Care: A Roundup of Games and Recreational Activities
[For Seniors] Enjoy with Peace of Mind Even During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Seated Activities (101–110)
Theme Bingo
This is a theme bingo that starts by choosing a topic and filling in the grid with words.
Hand out blank grid sheets to participants and have them fill each square with names that fit the chosen theme.
Writing while recalling item names makes for good mental exercise.
Once everyone is done, draw from the prepared cards in order and read them out.
If someone completes a line vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, it’s bingo! Even common items like vegetables or animals can be surprisingly hard to recall on the spot.
Be sure to enjoy it together!
ball whacking
This is a recreation game called Ball Smack that naturally brings out laughter.
The rules are simple: split into two teams and sit facing each other.
One team passes a hitting stick to the person on their left, while the other team passes a defending hat to the person on their right, one after another.
When each item reaches the person at the far end, that person raises it above their head once, then starts passing it back in the opposite direction.
The person who finally receives the stick hits the beanbag on the floor with it.
Meanwhile, the person who finally receives the hat tries to defend by covering the beanbag with the hat.
It’s thrilling and fun to see whether the stick team can strike first or the hat team can defend first!
ball throwing
Ball tossing is perfect for recreational activities at care facilities, as it allows participants to move their upper bodies well even while seated.
Using soft, beanbag-like balls that fit in the palm makes it safe too, which is a nice bonus.
Once everyone gets used to it, it’s easy to switch up the size or material of the balls, so try incorporating different variations.
And when the ball doesn’t fly as intended, the shared suspense and excitement make it even more fun—highly recommended!
Recommended for recreation! Tong catch
It’s a game where you skillfully use tongs to move ping-pong balls from a box in front of you to a basket at hand.
If you play it as a head-to-head match facing your opponent, it encourages not only precise tong control but also speed.
It might also be good to vary the shape and size of the tongs, creating a pattern where players think about how much force to apply as they move.
Because the task of moving the balls is so simple, it’s easy to tweak the tools you use.
Try coming up with variations that focus on the body parts you want to train and the way you apply force.
Sing and dance! Ball exercises
This is an exercise where you move a ball to the music, making it a fun way to train your body.
By feeling the bright, uplifting mood of “Tsubasa wo Kudasai,” you become more conscious of making big, expansive movements.
Since the song has a relaxed tempo, being able to apply steady, sustained force to the ball over time is another key point.
Progressing without rushing and checking each movement leads to smoother body mechanics.
If you add choreography that reflects the imagery of the song, you can feel its world even more and make the exercise even more enjoyable.