[For Seniors] July Events: Recommended Recreation Ideas for Senior Facilities
July is when the feeling of summer really ramps up.
When planning recreational activities during hotter weather, it’s important to pay close attention to heat precautions and the health management of older adults.
To avoid the heat, people tend to spend more time in cool indoor spaces.
At times like these, you’ll want to offer recreation that doesn’t feel monotonous.
Try incorporating a variety of activities themed around July events such as Tanabata, Marine Day, and the Day of the Ox (Doyo no Ushi no Hi).
Please use this article as a reference for planning July events at senior care facilities.
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For Seniors: July Events — Recommended Recreation Activities for Senior Facilities (31–40)
Enjoying food stalls in a yukata
Savor summer in quintessential Japanese style.
Here are ideas for enjoying festival stalls in a yukata.
When it comes to summer, cool-evening festivals and summer festivals are major events.
Why not take this opportunity to change into a yukata and enjoy the event with your whole being? Slip into a beloved yukata and you’ll naturally stand a little taller and feel refreshed—no doubt about it! Nostalgic summer memories will come flooding back, and conversations will flow.
Even if going out is difficult, festival stalls set up in your facility or garden can spark excitement and joy.
It’s sure to be a wonderful event spent in a gorgeous yukata.
Shaved ice making
Making shaved ice is perfect for a hot and humid summer.
First, prepare a shaved ice machine and a few kinds of syrup.
Then let everyone enjoy watching the ice being shaved.
Next, pick a favorite syrup and pour it on—this part is exciting and fun, too.
After that, it’s finally time to dig in.
You can savor the delicious taste or get carried away reminiscing about summer memories! Adding some toppings can make it even more fun.
Balloon scooping
Here’s a very simple and easy activity that still requires balance and really gets everyone excited: Balloon Scooping.
You know the small water balloons used for yo-yo fishing at summer festivals? For Balloon Scooping, use those balloons, but inflate them without water.
Place about 10 balloons on a flat surface like a table, set a box next to them, and use a handheld fan (uchiwa) to scoop up the balloons and put them into the box.
How many seconds will it take to get all the balloons in? The balloons float and wobble, making them hard to scoop—which makes the game even more fun.
Watermelon splitting
Bring the stick down with a powerful swing—crack! Nicely done! It’s watermelon smashing, a delicious summer recreation.
Green and black stripes with a peek of red between them… just imagining it makes you hungry, doesn’t it? If you’ve tried it before, you’ll know that you actually need quite a bit of force to break a watermelon with a stick.
For safety, it’s recommended that a staff member hold the stick together with the participant or place a supportive hand to steady their body.
Also, placing the watermelon on a raised surface like a table rather than on the ground makes it easier to aim and allows it to be done while seated.
Ghost Story Gathering
For those who love to chat, a ghost-story gathering is something you should definitely try.
Let’s forget the summer heat with spine-chilling tales.
Personal experiences or made-up stories—anything goes.
If you’re into it, a “rakugo ghost-story session” could be an option too.
To set the mood, keep the venue a bit dim.
That said, some people aren’t good with scary stuff, so be sure to check in advance.
Paying attention to outfits—like wearing yukata—can also help create the right atmosphere.
[For Seniors] July Events: Recommended Recreational Activities for Elderly Care Facilities (41–50)
Star Toss Showdown
If you’re looking for a Tanabata-themed recreation activity for seniors, how about “Star Flick Battle”? In this game, you place many star-shaped paper cutouts on a table and use uchiwa fans to blow them toward the opponent’s side.
The team that gets the most stars into the other side’s territory wins.
It’s a seated activity, so it’s also reassuringly safe.
Long time no see.
This recreation activity called “Ohisashiburine” is a game based on the Tanabata tale of Orihime and Hikoboshi.
A picture of Orihime and Hikoboshi is attached to a water-filled plastic bottle, then placed on top of a uchiwa (Japanese hand fan).
A string is tied to the fan, and the other end of the string is wound around a stick or similar object and gradually wound to bring it closer.
Because it’s easy to enjoy while seated, it’s recommended as a recreation activity for older adults.