Lovely senior life

[For Seniors] Enjoy safely even during the COVID-19 pandemic: Seated activities

Social worker / Care workermoko
My name is Moko, a mother of three who admired my mother and worked in the care industry as a care worker and as a medical social worker (MSW) in a hospital. I will be drawing on my previous experience to write mainly about caregiving. Thank you in advance.
Certified Care Worker / Former Day Service StaffAbe Eri
I worked at a day service for seven years and obtained my Certified Care Worker qualification in 2019. I have provided meal assistance and bathing assistance, as well as led recreational activities that involve physical movement and cognitive stimulation. I enjoy drawing and crafting. My motto is: “With a smile, anything is possible!” and I try to live joyfully every day. I’m also doting on my beloved Chihuahua.

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] Enjoy Safely Even During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Seated Activities (111–120)

Easy-Peasy Balloon Volleyball

A quick idea introduction: “Easy Balloon Volleyball”

Easy-Peasy Balloon Volleyball

When you play balloon volleyball, you might sometimes hit it too hard and it flies off in an unexpected direction.

In those moments, attaching a string to the balloon so you can control it will help you keep the rally going longer.

It’s a simple tweak—just attach some plastic ribbon to the balloon and move it—but you’ll need to be thoughtful about how you guide it and how much force you use.

If you pull too hard on the string, the balloon’s movement can become restricted or it may fall faster, so be sure to apply gentle, controlled force.

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Simple finger exercises

[Simple Finger Exercises] 5 Picks to Keep the Brain from Getting Bored – Brain Training Exercises for Seniors, Preventive Care

Simple finger exercises

This is a brain-training exercise where you count numbers using your fingers held out in front of your body, gradually adding more elements to how you move them.

When you focus on your hands in front of you, it’s easy to slip into a relaxed posture, so it’s important to be mindful about sitting up straight with your back extended.

Start by making the same shape with both hands; once you get used to that, move on to making different shapes, gradually increasing the complexity of how you switch between them.

If you add not only hand shapes but also forward/back and side-to-side movements of the arms, it will further enhance the brain-training effect and help you stay aware of your arm muscles as well.

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Chopstick Color Sorting Game

[Senior Recreation] Color-sorting game with disposable chopsticks!

Chopstick Color Sorting Game

When we casually use chopsticks in everyday life, we’re actually making special finger movements.

If we incorporate a game that uses chopsticks, we could train the hands and brain at the same time.

Prepare a piece of cardboard with evenly spaced pins inserted, along with color-coded rings.

At the starting signal, place each ring onto a pin of the matching color.

It’s a game where you compete to see how quickly you can place all the rings.

If you decorate not only the pins and rings but also the cardboard in colorful ways, it’ll be even more fun!

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Partition Rec

[Senior Recreation] Annoying but necessary! Recreational activities you can do with partitions left in place [COVID era, day service rec, senior care, infection control]

Partition Rec

Here’s a game recommendation for when partitions are installed on tables as part of infection control measures and your usual recreational activities aren’t possible.

Instead of seeing the partition as an obstacle, think of it as a way to divide territories, and you can come up with all sorts of games.

For example, with a fan and a balloon, you can play a kind of volleyball that takes advantage of the partition’s height.

Or you can enjoy a hockey-like game where you flick plastic bottle caps with your fingers, making use of the small pass-through holes to send pieces back and forth.

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Plastic bag activity

If you want an activity right now, try this: Easy to prepare and exciting! A recreation using plastic bags [Elderly Recreation / Day Service]

Plastic bag activity

Here are some simple activities you can do with plastic bags! First is the Plastic Bag Toss, where you use a fan (uchiwa) to create wind and blow off a plastic bag placed over a plastic bottle.

Second is the Stuff-It Game: prepare lots of balls and cardboard tube cores, and compete to see who can pack the most into a plastic bag—just like a supermarket “all-you-can-pack” deal.

Third is the Centrifugal Force Game: put a water-filled plastic bottle into a plastic bag and, using centrifugal force, swing and throw it into a distant basket.

These are easy games you can do with items you no longer need, so give them a try when a sudden rain keeps you from going out for a walk!

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