[For Seniors] Easy and fun seated activities you can do in your room
Introducing fun seated recreational activities for older adults!
Even when you want to do exercises in nursing homes or day service centers, activities that are too intense or put strain on the legs and back can increase the risk of falls.
The activities we’re introducing this time are recommended because everyone can enjoy them while staying seated.
From exercises that move only the hands to games that engage the entire upper body, choose whatever looks fun from the many options available.
They’re even more exciting if you make them team competitions!
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- [For Seniors] Enjoyable Indoor Activities! Recreations and Games That Engage the Mind and Body
- [For Seniors] Recreational Activities Enjoyable in Large Groups
- [Elderly Day Service] Let’s all have fun! Games and recreational activities
- Hand games that liven things up for seniors—also great brain training
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- [For Seniors] Exciting Team-Based Recreational Activities
[For Seniors] Easy and Fun In-Room Activities♪ Enjoyable Seated Recreation (71–80)
Rubik’s Cube

This is a classic puzzle where you twist and turn the blocks to align all six faces.
It tests your ability to visualize how each square will move and where it will end up.
Relying on intuition alone makes completing all six faces difficult, so learning specific algorithms is important—starting by solving just one face is recommended.
As you get better at moving the blocks to the positions you intend, you’ll also start to feel yourself getting closer to completing all six faces.
Hand-wrapping newspaper

Here’s a fun recreation activity using newspaper! The rules are simple: compete to see how fast you can roll up the newspaper using your hands.
You can make it more fun by setting different rules, like using both hands or only one hand.
Another exciting variation is to face each other and roll up the same sheet of newspaper from opposite ends to see who can roll up more.
The heated competition will get older adults watching to enjoy it together as well! This activity can be done while seated, so people who have difficulty standing or who use a wheelchair can also take part.
Newspaper Dart

Let me introduce Newspaper Darts.
Cut holes—circles, triangles, squares, etc.—into a large cardboard box and assign points to each.
To prevent the edges of the holes from tearing, it’s a good idea to reinforce them with vinyl tape or similar.
Roll up sheets of newspaper tightly to make long, thin sticks.
This recreation uses those newspaper sticks as darts! Compete by totaling the points of the holes you throw them into.
It’ll be exciting as a team competition, too! It’s a game that involves raising your arm and concentrating to aim for the holes—perfect as a recreation activity in senior care facilities.
[For Seniors] Easy and fun seated activities you can do in your room (81–90)
Beanbag Catch

Let’s have fun with a beanbag-catching game.
Toss beanbags to older adults seated in chairs, and have them catch the beanbags using a container.
Everyday items like a colander, bowl, or sushi tub work just fine.
It’s enjoyable with both large and small groups.
A team competition to see who can catch the most beanbags is also recommended.
The lively atmosphere will likely encourage interaction among participants, and it’s a refreshing activity for everyone.
Beanbag Catch Relay

Using beanbags and a bucket, here’s a beanbag catch relay.
Have the older adults sit in chairs in a single line.
Give the bucket to the person at one end, and have each person catch the beanbag that comes their way using the bucket.
After catching the beanbag, pass the bucket to the next person.
Catching the beanbag that flies toward you is said to help train reflexes.
Even while seated, you’ll be moving your body, so you can do brain training and exercise at the same time.
Once everyone gets used to it, gradually adjust the difficulty by increasing the throwing speed of the beanbags.
It really livens things up, and attempting tasks that feel a bit challenging is also said to help activate the brain.
Beanbag Block

Let’s train our legs while having fun with a beanbag game.
Pair up and sit facing each other.
One person throws a beanbag so that it reaches the other person’s feet.
The other person blocks the incoming beanbag with their feet.
Each chair has a designated territory around it, and the person who gets more beanbags into the opponent’s territory wins.
Because you use your feet to block the beanbags, you can train your legs while seated.
Successfully blocking will make older adults feel happy, too.
It also creates opportunities to chat with those around you, which can lead to more social interaction.
Otedama Hoi

Here’s a simple recreation activity using a large bath towel and beanbags.
Two people sit facing each other on chairs and each holds an end of the bath towel.
Place several beanbags in the center of the towel.
Working together, the two people shake the towel to build momentum and toss the beanbags toward a target.
It gets exciting when many beanbags land in the target.
Another key point of this activity is cooperation between the two participants.
Older adults can naturally create opportunities for interaction by calling out to each other and working together.
Through this recreation, it’s likely to bring more smiles to older adults.



