Seniors will love it! A roundup of popular events
In senior care facilities and day services, I believe staff regularly plan events that seniors will enjoy.
Seasonal events enrich seniors both mentally and physically and can also help relieve stress.
They also provide positive stimulation for those who have fewer opportunities to go out.
In this article, we’ll introduce popular events that are well-received by seniors.
Through a variety of activities—such as birthday parties, dining outings, and cherry-blossom viewing—seniors can also deepen their connections with one another.
Please read this article and use it to help you plan your events.
- Recommended fun performances that will appeal to elderly people
- Entertainment and Performances That Delight at Day Services for the Elderly
- [Respect-for-the-Aged Day Celebration] Crowd-Pleasing Performances: Ideas That Staff Can Enjoy Too
- [For Seniors] Recreational Activities Enjoyable in Large Groups
- [For Seniors] Highlights of Fun Events at Day-Service Centers
- [For Seniors] Simple Tabletop Games: Fun and Engaging Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Lively! Entertainment Ideas for New Year’s Parties
- [For Seniors] Easy to try. Fun, crowd-pleasing recreation
- For Seniors: Enjoy the Rainy Season—Event Ideas Perfect for June
- For seniors: Simple and exciting! Ideas for staff performances
- [Respect-for-the-Aged Celebration] Guaranteed to Get Everyone Excited! Introducing Perfect Plans to Celebrate Longevity
- [For Seniors] Fun Small-Group Recreation
- [For Seniors] Enjoyable Day Service: A Collection of Fun Event Ideas
Seniors will love it! A roundup of popular events (11–20)
Setsubun
In recent years, ehomaki rolls have become a trend, and Setsubun is an event that people of all ages, from children to adults, look forward to.
As a seasonal turning point from winter to spring, Setsubun is a wonderful opportunity to sense the arrival of spring—why not incorporate it into senior care facilities as well? Offering a sense of the seasons can be stimulating even for older adults whose sensitivities may have dulled.
You could create a festive atmosphere by having staff dress up as demons (oni) for the traditional bean-throwing, or by featuring ehomaki on the day’s meal menu.
You might also include songs and dances related to oni to make the event even more lively.
mochi pounding
Seeing the mallet and mortar for mochi pounding gets seniors excited, too.
As the saying goes, “Old skills die hard,” the body remembers what it learned long ago no matter how old we get.
Try linking it with fun New Year’s memories and enjoy it together.
Raise your voices with calls like “Sore!” and “Yoisho!” to liven up the recreation.
Even those who usually find it a hassle to move because of back pain might suddenly forget all about it!
Matsuken Samba
Dressed in dazzling costumes and dancing energetically to an upbeat rhythm, the staff really catch the eye.
We’d like to introduce a dance idea set to “Matsuken Samba,” a perfect, festive centerpiece for a summer festival.
Not only are the crisp hand movements and steps impressive, but the occasional comedic expressions and gestures instantly liven up the atmosphere and bring out smiles.
Older adults join in with clapping and cheers, too.
Even without flashy effects or lighting, the power of the music and the energy of the dance brighten the entire venue.
It’s a popular performance that adds color to summer festivals and creates a lively, fun, and spirited mood.
handheld fireworks
Fireworks are one of the things that evoke summertime—the vivid dance of flames really highlights the season’s fun, doesn’t it? Among them, how about enjoying that summer feeling with handheld fireworks you can easily get? Each person holding one and searching for a beautiful angle enhances not only the fun but also your focus on what’s in your hands.
There are many types, each with different ways the sparks appear, so it’s also fun to find your favorite among them.
Senior Senryu Contest
In June, as we enter the rainy season, we’d like to introduce a senryu event you can enjoy indoors.
Senryu are composed in a five-seven-five rhythm.
Haiku use the same five-seven-five pattern, but unlike haiku, senryu do not require seasonal words.
They characteristically portray human feelings and social events with satire or humor, often in a conversational tone.
Salaryman senryu are well known, aren’t they? Let’s invite older adults to compose verses that weave in humor about what they usually think and feel.
Casual senryu from seniors might spark laughter and liven up the room.
Making Umeboshi (Japanese pickled plums)
June 6 is said to be Ume Day, established by the Kishu Ume Association.
When June comes, supermarkets and home centers line their shelves with a variety of products for making umeboshi, don’t they? Making umeboshi is also a great recommendation for June events at senior facilities.
Some older adults may have made umeboshi every year.
If they have a plum tree at home, some may even have started with the “ume work” of removing the stems from the harvested plums.
If you host a umeboshi-making event, older adults could serve as instructors and really liven up the occasion.
Elderly people will love it! Summary of popular events (21–30)
Father’s Day Izakaya
Many senior and welfare facilities likely hold Father’s Day-themed recreation and events.
Here are some ideas for fun, familiar Father’s Day activities.
Since it’s a day to celebrate dads, try decorating the room with an izakaya (Japanese pub) vibe.
Hanging noren curtains and red lanterns will help set the mood.
You can also post a paper menu for snacks and drinks so people can order what they like.
In a lively, pub-like setting, some seniors may recall memories from their days working at a company or times spent with family.