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[For Seniors] Recommended Events for May: A Roundup of Ideas That Get Everyone Engaged
May is a refreshing season that makes your heart feel light.
As the weather warms up, it becomes easier to hold events at facilities and similar venues.
It’s also a time when older adults may feel like trying new things, isn’t it?
With that in mind, we’re introducing recommended May events for seniors.
We selected activities designed so that even those who find it difficult to move around can still enjoy themselves.
May features many events and observances, such as Golden Week, Children’s Day (Tango no Sekku), and Mother’s Day.
There are also interesting commemorative days that make event planning fun, like “Makeup Day” and “Hyakunin Isshu Day.”
Through these events, seniors within the same facility can communicate more and deepen their connections.
We hope everyone enjoys them together.
[For Seniors] Recommended Events for May: A Roundup of Crowd-Pleasing Ideas (1–10)
Carnation bouquet
Mother’s Day is in May, isn’t it? Some senior homes and welfare facilities may also hold Mother’s Day events.
When it comes to Mother’s Day gifts, carnations are the classic choice.
Here, we’ll introduce an origami bouquet featuring carnations.
Fold origami paper and use scissors to cut and shape the carnations.
Make the stems and leaves as well, then attach the carnation flowers.
Create several carnations, place them in an origami bouquet sleeve, and you’re done.
The finished bouquets can be presented by staff to senior residents as Mother’s Day gifts.
Of course, this also makes a great craft project for May.
Chair exercises in May
When May comes, the temperatures feel pleasant and there are more days you can spend comfortably, right? Chair exercises for May, which you can do while seated, are perfect for this comfortable season.
Although it’s a time of year when it’s easier to move your body, we recommend easy seated exercises that suit each older person’s physical condition.
Since the exercises involve slowly moving the hands and feet to children’s songs, they’re enjoyable to do.
Plus, singing along while recalling the lyrics stimulates the brain, making it a sure bet for dementia prevention! Be sure to consciously incorporate diaphragmatic breathing as well.
Spring Vegetable Quiz
Speaking of spring, everything starts anew, so it’s really exciting, isn’t it? And spring vegetables are a must for this season! Many people may not actually know much about spring vegetables, so this time I’ll introduce them in a quiz format.
What comes to mind when you think of spring vegetables? Vegetables that are in season in spring have plenty of nutrients because they grow after enduring the winter cold.
By eating spring vegetables, your body can absorb nutrients well and you can stay healthy.
Spring also brings temperature swings that can throw your autonomic nervous system off balance.
At times like that, it helps to know the names of spring vegetables and use them in your cooking!
Brain-training Exercise Song: Chatsumi (Tea Picking)
The balmy month of May is a time when it’s easier for older adults to get moving.
This time, we’re introducing a brain-training exercise with singing that’s perfect for the season.
May is also the season of fresh green tea.
“Chatsumi” (Tea Picking) is a children’s song that symbolizes early summer in Japan, known for its bright, rhythmic melody.
It’s easy to learn, making it suitable for older adults to exercise to.
We’ve incorporated traditional Japanese tea-picking movements into the routine, so it’s easy to enjoy casually.
Singing together as a group also creates a sense of unity and makes for a delightful time.
Tea Jar Hand Play
May is the season when new tea tastes delicious.
“Tea Jar Hand Play” is a game that lets you fully savor that seasonal feeling! You can play it anywhere, so it’s fun even by yourself at home.
It’s also one of those easy games that work well as a group activity in senior care facilities.
No tools are needed, so it’s simple to try.
The Tea Jar song has the simple melody and rhythm unique to traditional children’s songs, making it pleasant to hear and familiar for older adults.
It’s also filled with elements of Japanese culture, evoking a sense of nostalgia.
Let’s all use our hands and enjoy it together!
Tea Picking Game
May is the season for harvesting new tea leaves, isn’t it? For many older adults, tea is one of the beverages they can’t do without, and it’s important for daily hydration.
A great activity to get seniors engaged is the Tea-Picking Game.
It’s a tabletop game where players pick up “tea leaves” and compete at plucking them, which helps train the fingertips.
Singing along while playing also develops a sense of rhythm.
Because everyone can enjoy it together, it can help stimulate the brain, too.
Another appeal is the uplifting feeling that comes from experiencing a game full of seasonal flair.
Fly away! Koinobori
When we go about our days without much thought, many of us may feel we don’t really sense the changing seasons.
This can be especially true for older adults.
For them, engaging in recreation that highlights the seasons is a wonderful idea.
In this article, we’ll introduce a carp streamer (koinobori) activity tied to May.
Let’s make koinobori using newspaper! It’s easy—you just fold or roll the newspaper and draw a face, and you’re done.
Not only is it fun to make, but you can also fly them, so it works great as a game, too.