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
Elderly people will love it! Summary of popular events (21–30)
Music Therapy: Nostalgic Kayōkyoku (Japanese Popular Songs)
Many older adults have probably listened to nostalgic kayōkyoku (popular songs) at least once.
During the rainy season when it keeps pouring, try spending time indoors listening to or singing those classics.
As the familiar tunes and lyrics play, they will likely bring back memories from that time—like songs you listened to with friends or sang together at school—and music is said to revive the feelings and emotions tied to those moments.
What’s more, listening, singing, and moving your body to the music can help stimulate the brain.
It might even spark lively conversations about memories from those days.
carry a handmade mikoshi (portable Shinto shrine)
When it comes to festivals, the lavish mikoshi are an essential element that lift everyone’s spirits, and the powerful sight of people carrying them conveys a positive energy.
This project invites you to try carrying a mikoshi yourself and to express the joy of a festival with a handmade version.
Real mikoshi are heavy and made of wood, but if you build one mainly out of paper, you can make something easy to carry.
Being able to give clear shape to your own image of a festival or a mikoshi is also a key point that highlights the fun of festivals.
If everyone carries it together in unison, it will create a sense of unity on the spot.
fashion show
A birthday party that celebrates longevity and expresses daily gratitude.
How about holding a fashion show as part of this wonderful birthday event? Invite seniors to wear outfits connected to their lives or ones they’ve always wanted to try.
Choosing among dresses, kimonos, and more can make for an enjoyable time in itself.
And be sure to spend time on makeup, too.
Just as there is makeup therapy that incorporates psychological techniques, some people feel lighter and brighter after a makeover.
Walking the runway with staff members, just like a real fashion show, is sure to get everyone excited.
song exercise
Here are some recommended sing-along exercises for a birthday party activity.
While seated, move along with the music by clapping, bending your elbows, lifting your toes, and more.
The key is to choose a variety of songs—some with expressive dynamics, others with a good tempo.
Think of movements that can be done safely while seated, keeping participants’ safety in mind.
Doing the activity with expressive facial gestures will help liven things up! Performing it while singing also helps with relaxation and stress relief, so it’s highly recommended.
kusudama (decorative paper ball used for celebrations)
Incorporating a kusudama into the birthday party activities should really help lift the atmosphere.
When preparing it, choose longer, sparkly streamers and similar materials so that the contents don’t scatter onto participants when the ball is opened.
Adding messages or names inside will likely make it even more delightful.
After everyone sings and offers congratulations, do a countdown and have someone open the kusudama to raise the excitement even more.
Also, be mindful to speak and engage in ways that ensure all participants can enjoy the celebration.
Sing the birthday song together
Birthdays are special no matter how old you are.
To make the day fun and memorable, why not have everyone sing a birthday song along with some background music? And don’t worry if you’re not comfortable singing—clapping along or joining in with instruments like bells or a tambourine is great, too.
Including the birthday person’s name in the song will boost the celebratory mood even more.
You can set up a special seat, adjust the lighting, and—even though it’s classic—a surprise cake is sure to be a hit.
makeup
Creating time for makeup during a birthday recreation activity seems likely to bring smiles to the residents’ faces.
I think many residents feel especially strong emotions on their birthday, a day when they’re the star.
It’s wonderful to receive makeup on such a special day.
Having someone do the makeup that they can’t easily do themselves can be a nice change of pace and lift their spirits in many ways.
When doing makeup, be sure to ask about the resident’s preferences and use clean makeup tools.