Lovely senior life

[For Seniors] Recommended Events for May: A Roundup of Ideas That Get Everyone Engaged

Social worker / Care workermoko
My name is Moko, a mother of three who admired my mother and worked in the care industry as a care worker and as a medical social worker (MSW) in a hospital. I will be drawing on my previous experience to write mainly about caregiving. Thank you in advance.
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.

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)

Koinobori and kashiwa mochi

Koinobori Kashiwa-mochi: An easy recipe for making kashiwa-mochi in 30 minutes using a microwave

Koinobori and kashiwa mochi

For many people, Children’s Day is synonymous with koinobori (carp streamers) and kashiwa mochi.

The oak leaves are considered auspicious because the old leaves don’t fall off until new buds appear.

That’s why kashiwa mochi is seen as a lucky sweet that expresses wishes for children’s healthy growth.

This time, we’ll introduce an easy koinobori kashiwa mochi you can make in the microwave.

Knead the dough, divide it into appropriate portions, and shape them.

If you add strawberries to the red bean paste, the sweetness gains a touch of tartness for a refreshing taste.

Finish by decorating them as carp streamers, and they’re ready to enjoy.

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A Calendar of Wind, Rain, and Hydrangeas

As May draws to a close and the rainy season approaches, you can almost feel the gradual increase in rain, and the gentle sound of rainfall conveys the shift of the seasons.

How about decorating your calendar with illustrations of rain, wind, and hydrangeas that evoke this time when the rainy season is near? Make the overall tone a pale blue and add just a few lines to express a calm rain.

Since it’s not the full rainy season yet, it’s best to keep the rain depiction subdued.

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Chair exercises in May

Gentle Exercises for Seniors: May in Japan Chair Exercises with Children's Songs and Music

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.

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[For Seniors] Recommended Events in May: A Collection of Ideas That Will Liven Things Up (11–20)

Tea Jar Hand Play

Dementia Prevention: Hand Play to the Tune of the Tea Caddy Song!

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!

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Spring Vegetable Quiz

Spring Vegetable Quiz (1) [Brain Training] [For Senior Facilities, etc.] Created in 2023 • For Recreation • Spring Vegetables • Fields • May Flowers • June Flowers • Flowers that Evoke Spring

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!

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Koinobori Soufflé Cheesecake

[Koinobori] The snack I’ll make for my husband who has a boyish heart is a “soufflé cheesecake made with just three ingredients.”

Koinobori Soufflé Cheesecake

For Children’s Day events, it’s also recommended to prepare luxurious sweets and enjoy a festive celebration.

Perfect for events at senior care facilities as well is the Koinobori Soufflé Cheesecake introduced here.

It looks like a koinobori carp streamer, is cute, and easy to make—highly recommended.

Making it together lets everyone enjoy the fun of cooking and the appeal of teamwork.

Just mix the ingredients, pour into cups, and bake in the oven—that’s it! The final decorating step really sparks creativity.

Enjoy customizing your own designs.

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Let’s make koinobori (carp streamers)

Wakomon TV Crafts: Children's Day Koinobori – How to Make a 'Carp Decoration' for Boys' Festival #046 • Easy Chirimen Crafts, Temari, Oshie, and Japanese Accessories

Let's make koinobori (carp streamers)

Let’s try making some cute decorative koi-nobori (carp streamers).

You’ll need origami paper, double-sided tape, glue, scissors, chirimen crepe fabric, felt, and so on.

These are all things you can usually find at home.

These days you can even buy chirimen fabric scraps at 100-yen shops.

It’s great that the materials are easy to prepare! You can have fun making them together and then display them as they are, so you’ll enjoy them as finished pieces too.

They’d also make a gift your grandchild would love.

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