[For Seniors] Guaranteed to Liven Things Up! A Collection of Brain Training Activities That Will Spark Laughter
The time filled with laughter is a meaningful time that refreshes both mind and body, isn’t it? This time, we’re introducing word games and quizzes that you can enjoy together with seniors.
Try a game where you combine the names of Chinese dishes, a paired game where partners write the same answer, and a fill-in-the-blank quiz using Silver Senryu poems.
How about spending a fun time together that naturally brings smiles? Recreational activities like word games and quizzes stimulate the brain and can help prevent dementia.
They not only enrich the heart but also spark natural conversation, letting everyone enjoy a wonderful time together.
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- For seniors: Fun, crowd-pleasing word association game ideas
- [For Seniors] Fun and Engaging Brain-Training Recreation
- [For Seniors] Fun and Lively! Recommended Quiz Questions
- [For Seniors] Fun Riddles That Stimulate the Brain
- Hand games that liven things up for seniors—also great brain training
- For seniors: Fun shiritori—enjoyable and easy to play
- Conversations Made Easy! A Collection of Topics That Elderly People Enjoy
- Recommended fun performances that will appeal to elderly people
- [For Seniors] Fun Small-Group Recreation
- [For Seniors] Guaranteed to Be a Hit! Popular Day Service Recreational Activities
Tongue Twisters and Oral Exercises (11–20)
Patakara Exercise Song
This is an exercise where you say “pa-ta-ka-ra” in time with the Patakara Exercise Song to train the muscles around the mouth.
By vocalizing “pa-ta-ka-ra,” you can expect various benefits such as maintaining and improving chewing and swallowing strength, promoting saliva secretion, and stabilizing pronunciation.
Doing it especially before meals prepares your mouth and increases the effectiveness in preventing aspiration.
Continuing the exercise enhances its benefits.
Try to do it at least once a day, preferably before meals.
Patakara Oral Exercise: Heaven and Hell
Here’s an idea for a Patakara exercise set to the familiar “Orpheus in the Underworld” music often heard at sports festivals.
Although the piece has no lyrics, try pronouncing “pa ta ka ra” by going through the syllables: pa pi pu pe po, ta chi tsu te to, ka ki ku ke ko, ra ri ru re ro in time with the music.
Once you get used to it, speeding up the tempo can make it more fun.
Since this is a tune many people recognize, even first-timers should be able to do it smoothly.
Doing the exercise before meals can enhance its benefits, so in senior care facilities, please be mindful of the timing.
An exercise that can prevent aspiration and choking just by reading aloud: the Pa-Ta-Ka-Ra exercise
Patakara exercises are exercises that stimulate oral functions through pronunciation.
This time, we’ll introduce a method that uses reading aloud.
All you need to do is read the sentences written on a whiteboard out loud, so you can proceed at your own pace.
Another advantage is that if you jot the sentences down, you can do the exercises anywhere, including at home.
Benefits include improving chewing strength to aid digestion, enhancing swallowing ability to prevent accidental aspiration and the pneumonia it can cause, and increasing saliva production, which helps sterilize and disinfect the mouth.
Doing the exercises before meals can make them even more effective.
Vocal exercise with 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.
Pa-Ta-Ka-Ra finger exercises
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.