[For Seniors] Guaranteed to Liven Things Up! A Collection of Brain Training Activities That Will Spark Laughter

Vocal exercise with A I U E O

Vocal exercise for seniors with Gobo-sensei’s oral gymnastics “A I U E O”

This is an oral exercise using the vowels “a-i-u-e-o” that makes it easier for older adults to speak loudly.

The first five sounds of the Japanese syllabary, “a-i-u-e-o,” are said to be easy for Japanese people to pronounce.

When the words are easy to say, it may be easier for older adults to try them, and the effect may improve as well.

Be mindful of how wide you open your mouth and how you move it, and try changing the order of a-i-u-e-o or varying the pitch.

The key here is to enjoy the exercise.

Try adding elements that will get older adults engaged, such as inserting casual conversation during the exercise or making the movements bigger.

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Nakajima Junko

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Pa-Ta-Ka-Ra finger exercises

[Mouth Exercises While Wearing a Mask] Patakara + finger exercises have become the ultimate oral workout! 4 patterns! Also activates the brain!

Many care facilities incorporate the “Pa-Ta-Ka-Ra” oral exercises.

However, some older adults may get bored if it’s the same routine every time.

So let’s add finger movements to the usual Pa-Ta-Ka-Ra exercises.

While saying pa-ta-ka-ra out loud, clap your hands or make a “fox” hand pose and move your hands.

The key is to enjoy it.

You’ll be using both your mouth and your hands, which can be tricky at first if you’re not used to it.

But it’s fine to make mistakes.

We use both our mouths and hands when eating, right? Using your fingertips during the exercises also helps train the movements needed for meals.

Try doing Pa-Ta-Ka-Ra with added finger movements at the pace that suits the older adults.

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mouth exercise

Mihama Town, Aichi Prefecture: Healthy Swallowing Exercises

The muscles in the face and mouth are important not only for eating but also for pronouncing words and creating rich facial expressions.

This exercise steadily trains those facial muscles by slowly performing basic mouth movements.

First, pronounce “a-i-u” slowly with exaggerated mouth movements, paying attention to the movement of your cheek muscles and your throat.

Next, move your tongue in various directions.

By applying tension to the tongue and moving it slowly, you can build awareness of how you move it while also strengthening the muscles.

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kappamaki

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Gymnastics with hand gestures

[Swallowing Training] Gave a lecture on the Pa-Ta-Ka-La exercises [Heart Smile Massage]

Let’s try adding hand movements to the Patakara oral exercises.

The hand movements are coordinated with the mouth movements for “pa-ta-ka-ra.” For example, you can’t pronounce “pa” without closing your lips.

To strengthen this lip-closing action, add a hand gesture that matches the mouth shape for “pa.” For “pa,” make your hand a fist like “rock” in rock–paper–scissors, then open it to “paper” at the same time you voice the sound.

By adding hand movements, even older adults can become more aware of their mouth movements.

The Patakara oral exercises not only train the muscles used for eating, but also enrich facial expressions and help people enjoy conversations with others.

You can also customize them, such as by adding hand movements while producing the sounds continuously.

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Nakajima Junko

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A-I-U-Be mouth exercise staring game

[Aiube Taiso Song] Staring Contest

It’s an exercise that adds “staring contest” to the “A-I-U-BE mouth exercise,” so it includes lots of laughter.

It can of course be enjoyed at care facilities, and it also seems perfect to try at home with your grandchildren.

Some older adults may have limited interaction with others.

With a staring-contest version of the A-I-U-BE exercise, you can foster interaction and smiles through the activity.

It’s easy to do as a game for recreation, so it’s highly recommended.

Let’s enjoy doing mouth exercises while having fun.

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Nakajima Junko

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