Lovely senior life

[For Seniors] January Activities and Recreation Games

Work experience in a hospital as a physical therapistNakamū
I worked as a physical therapist at a general hospital for about four years. I’ve supported a wide range of patients, from those needing emergency rehabilitation to those doing rehabilitation at home at a comfortable pace. As a writer, I’d be happy to share health-related information with many people. Thank you, and I look forward to working with you!
Care Worker Initial Training Certification ObtainedNakajima Junko
Leveraging my experience working as a care worker at a day service, I am currently active as a writer in the caregiving and welfare fields. Beyond writing, I hope to expand my work into web design and illustration. I am a mother of three who has begun studying to become a certified social worker.

January brings cold winds and a lingering chill in the air.

Here are some recommended recreational activities and games for older adults that are perfect for January.

We’ve gathered many options that can be enjoyed in a warm indoor setting!

As the weather gets colder, people tend to move less—so let’s get the body moving through games!

And of course, January means New Year’s.

New Year-themed activities and games might help older adults recall fond memories of the games they played in their childhood.

Enjoy a fun time with January-themed recreation while sparking lively conversations.

[For Seniors] January Activities and Recreation Games (11–20)

New Year decorations making

[New Year’s Craft] Make New Year decorations with origami and tissue paper♪

New Year decorations making

Let’s make a festive New Year’s decoration you’ll want to display in your room.

This piece is completed by attaching red-and-white flowers, a “Geshun” (Welcoming Spring) tag, and mizuhiki cord ornaments onto a fan base.

You can tie the mizuhiki yourself, or purchase a shape you like from a 100-yen shop.

For the fan, first join two sheets of plain origami paper vertically, then adhere narrow strips of washi-patterned origami along the left and right edges.

Accordion-fold the paper, shape it into a fan, and glue the necessary points to hold the form.

For the red-and-white flowers, stack several sheets of tissue paper, accordion-fold them, secure the center with wire, then gently separate each layer to form the flower.

Make the “Geshun” tag by writing the characters on paper and mounting it on gold origami.

Finally, attach all the parts to the fan in a balanced arrangement, and your decoration is complete!

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Flying Fukuwarai

This is the one for a guaranteed hit New Year’s party activity: Flying Fukuwarai!

Flying Fukuwarai

Let us introduce the sure-to-be-a-hit “Flying Fukuwarai.” Many people have played Fukuwarai during the New Year, right? In this video, they showcase a playful twist on the classic game.

Traditionally, you play Fukuwarai with your eyes closed, but in this version, you keep your eyes open.

Seated in a chair, you throw facial parts like eyes toward a face sheet placed on the floor—hence the “flying” in the name.

Even with your eyes open, it’s surprisingly hard to assemble the face, making it a fresh, hilarious take on Fukuwarai.

It’s bound to spark laughter! Be sure to try it as a recreation activity idea.

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Making seven-herb rice porridge

Nanakusa-gayu: A foolproof, delicious rice porridge—an easy recipe taught by a professional chef

Making seven-herb rice porridge

Let’s all work together and try making nanakusa-gayu! Nanakusa-gayu is rice porridge that includes the seven herbs of spring.

There’s a custom of eating it on January 7, and it’s said to be a tradition that has continued since the Edo period.

Some of you may remember reciting “seri, nazuna, gogyo…” in school.

By eating these medicinal herbs, which are believed to ward off evil, we pray for the health of our families and friends.

Older adults who value traditions and customs in particular might know delicious ways to prepare nanakusa-gayu.

If you learn from them and make and eat it together, you’ll be able to spend the year in good health!

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Hanging ornament of pine, bamboo, and plum

How to make New Year decorations out of paper: a hanging pine, bamboo, and plum ornament! Why not try handcrafting one for your January decor? [Tsukuru-mon]

Hanging ornament of pine, bamboo, and plum

Perfect for the New Year! Let’s make a hanging decoration inspired by pine, bamboo, and plum.

For this craft, roll strips of construction paper into loops, staple them, then crease or combine them to form the pine, bamboo, and plum shapes.

It’s very easy and cute, so give it a try.

Since you’ll need multiple cut strips of paper, you can use paper tape if you want to shorten the crafting time.

Once the pine, bamboo, and plum pieces are finished, attach them alternately with red-and-white circular parts onto a long strip-shaped base.

Then hang it in any arrangement you like and enjoy.

Making several and using them as wall decorations is lovely, too.

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Omikuji game

Omikuji game #recreation #day service #care prevention #elderly #New Year

Omikuji game

How about enjoying a fortune-telling omikuji game? Put sticks marked with numbers into a plastic bottle, then shake and try to get as many sticks out as you can within the time limit.

Compete on how many sticks you got out or the total of the numbers on them.

At the end, choose one of the sticks you drew and receive the matching-number omikuji to enjoy your fortune.

Shaking harder doesn’t necessarily get more sticks out, so think about how to move it to draw more effectively as you play.

Decorate the plastic bottle to give it an omikuji feel.

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