Games that liven up group homes. Fun recreational activities.
Group homes are senior care facilities with the charm of a warm, homelike atmosphere where residents can feel as if they’re at home.
Recreation is an essential part of everyday life in such settings.
Since most residents are older adults living with dementia, you’ll want to offer activities that help stimulate both mind and body.
For those seniors, how about trying “games and recreational activities that liven up the group home”?
This article introduces recreational ideas that are useful in the daily lives of older adults.
Care workers, please use this article as a reference.
Games that liven up group homes: fun recreation (1–10)
Shake and shoot
The distinctive feature of this recreation activity called “Shake and Shoot” is that the preparation itself is fun.
The setup phase is so substantial it almost feels like the main event, with a full-fledged crafting process.
It might be nice to build it on the first day and then experience it from the second day onward.
Tabletop Curling
Speaking of curling, thanks in part to the Olympics, it has become a very popular sport.
This recreation called “Tabletop Curling” lets you easily play curling indoors—and on a table, no less.
Brain Training & Refresh Exercises
This is a video introducing “Brain Training & Refresh Exercises.” Compared to ordinary workouts, it features many unique movements and activities that make you think a bit as you move.
It’s a handy set of exercises for adding stimulation when your routine has become monotonous.
Color-coded ring pickup
The great thing about this “Color-Coded Ring Pickup” recreation is that even the preparation itself has a recreational element.
You get to enjoy fun crafts like rolling construction paper into rings and rolling newspaper to make sticks.
The activity itself is also highly game-like and highly recommended.
Newspaper ball rolling relay
This is a recreation activity where you compete to see how fast you can roll a ball placed on a sheet of newspaper.
It’s suitable for small to large groups, so it’s also recommended for situations where you want to promote interaction among older adults.
Arrange chairs facing each other in alternating rows, and have two people hold the ends of a sheet of newspaper.
Roll the ball you’re given onto the next person’s newspaper, and if it makes it into the basket, that’s a goal.
You can enjoy variety by rolling different types of balls, such as a regular ball, beanbags, or a beach ball.
Give this event a try to experience the fun and sense of unity that comes from doing an activity together.
Kiyoshi’s Zundoko Exercises
As the name suggests, the “Kiyoshi no Zundoko Exercise” is a routine performed to the rhythm of Prince of Enka Kiyoshi Hikawa’s hit “Zundoko-bushi,” which enjoys overwhelming popularity among seniors.
Each facility can adapt it in various ways, making it a very easy exercise to implement.
Sukiyaki rock-paper-scissors
This “Sukiyaki Rock-Paper-Scissors” is a recreation activity that’s sure to liven things up if you try it.
The preparation itself should be fun to start with.
You begin by drawing pictures of various sukiyaki ingredients.
Then you play a game where you compete for them while playing rock-paper-scissors.
Rainbow Gymnastics
Created with the motto that anyone can do it, anytime, anywhere—even while lying down—this is the “Rainbow Exercise.” As you can see from the video, the method is very simple, and I think everyone will be able to learn it right away.
Everyone looks like they’re having a great time.
The World’s Gentlest Exercise: ‘Harmony Exercise’
By incorporating effective breathing techniques, this ‘Harmony Exercise’ not only offers a workout but also helps refresh both body and mind.
True to its claim as the easiest exercise in the world, it involves no difficult movements, making it easy and enjoyable for anyone.
I wonder what it is?
This “What could it be?” recreation activity is played by dividing into those who pose the questions and those who think of the answers.
What’s unique is the way the questions are presented.
It’s a game where you guess what an object is, but the questioner briefly tosses the object into the air.
That part is great fun and the key to the game.