[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 safely even during the COVID-19 pandemic: Seated activities (21–30)
Flapping Paper Cups
Here’s an activity you can do while seated: the paper-cup flapper.
All you need are a paper cup and a handheld fan (uchiwa).
Place the paper cup upside down on the table, then fan it with the uchiwa.
The cup will move, pushed by the wind.
When you move the cup to a designated spot, you’ve cleared the challenge.
Timing it and competing can make it even more exciting.
A tip for moving it well: hold the uchiwa level, pointing toward the cup, and fan as if tapping the table.
Goo-Paa Exercise
The open-and-close exercise you can do with your hands and feet while seated is perfect for brain training! Start by making a fist when you extend your hands forward and opening your hands when you pull them back, repeating the motion.
You can also try offsetting the timing between left and right; the more complex it gets, the more it stimulates the brain.
Once you’re comfortable with hand movements alone, add in some marching with your feet.
There are many possible variations, but it’s best to begin with simple ones so that moving feels fun and pleasant.
[For Seniors] Safe and enjoyable even during the COVID-19 pandemic: Sit-down activities (31–40)
Balloon Volleyball Relay
It’s a game where you gently tap the balloon upward to pass it to the next person, linking passes all the way to the goal basket.
Passing sideways can be difficult, so it may be easier to place a helper in front and have players tap the balloon toward them.
If you chase balloons that fly off to the side, it might put strain on the body, so it’s also a good idea to attach a string to the balloon so you can easily bring it back into view.
Encourage players to focus on gauging the right amount of force to connect to the next person and on judging how to capture the balloon in each situation.
Beanbag Toss Game
The “Ojami Toss Game” involves throwing beanbags at a beach ball placed in the center to drive it into the opposing team’s territory! The throwing motion, aiming at the target, provides plenty of exercise even while seated.
Even if you gain the upper hand for a moment, the ball quickly comes back due to the opposing team’s attacks, so participants can stay highly engaged and focused while having fun.
Furthermore, setting a time limit helps players concentrate more on the beach ball, making it a satisfying recreation activity even in a short period.
3 Fun Rubber Band Games
Rubber is characterized by its springy motion, and controlling your strength is necessary to make it move the way you want.
Let’s take on games that use rubber’s movement to help improve strength control and concentration.
In Rubber Rubber Shooter, you’ll feel the force used to launch; in Rubber Rubber Kick Bowling, the force of the rebound; and in Rubber Rubber Curling, the nuances of delicate movement.
By paying attention to how the way you apply force affects how it springs back and by adjusting that force, you’ll likely find your movements become smoother in everyday life as well.
towel rack
Towels are versatile items that can be used for all kinds of recreation! For improving reflexes, we recommend the Towel Catch Game.
Split into a dropper and a catcher, and grab the towel as it falls.
If you use sticks, you can enjoy games where you toss and catch the towel with the sticks, or move a towel draped over your stick to the next person’s stick.
Two people can hold the ends of a towel, place a beanbag on top, and toss it toward a target, or you can throw a rolled-up towel into a basket.
Liven things up with a wide variety of towel games!
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands
This is a brain-training exercise that uses the children’s song “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” originally based on an American folk song.
Because you move your body according to the lyrics while singing, it also trains decision-making and quick reactions.
By incorporating various parts of the body beyond the original lyrics, you can fully engage both your mind and body.
It’s a recreational activity we’d like you to enjoy in a game-like way, combining movement with song.
