[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] Enjoy May! Recommended Recreational Activities and Games
- [For Seniors] Enjoy May: A Collection of Seasonal Craft and Wall Decoration Ideas
- [May Health Topic] Introducing recreational activities for seniors!
- [For Seniors] May-Themed Wall Decoration Ideas Full of Seasonal Flair
- [For Seniors] Enjoy at Day Service: A Roundup of May Craft Ideas
- [For Seniors] Introducing May-themed Origami!
- [For Seniors] Enjoy Koinobori Indoors: Wall Decoration Ideas Collection
- [For Seniors] Celebrate Children's Day: Make Your Own Koinobori (Carp Streamers)
- For Seniors: Enjoy the Rainy Season—Event Ideas Perfect for June
- [Childcare] Let's make and display in May! Wall Decoration Craft Ideas
- [For Seniors] Introducing trivia related to May!
- For Seniors: Snacks to Make in May That Capture the Season
- [For Seniors] Easy and fun seated activities you can do in your room
[For Seniors] Recommended May Events: A Roundup of Fun, Crowd-Pleasing Ideas (21–30)
Mother’s Day event
Mother’s Day.
It can feel a bit embarrassing to say it outright, but this is a great opportunity to express your gratitude to your mom.
Set a festive mood with a floral arrangement on the table and let her enjoy cake in style.
Prepare a dinner that’s a little more sophisticated than usual, too.
Experiencing something out of the ordinary not only provides beneficial stimulation to help prevent cognitive decline, but will also become a lovely memory.
And of course, don’t forget the carnations.
When you give the gift, be sure to take a commemorative photo together.
She’s sure to be delighted.
Mother’s Day Exercise
In honor of Mother’s Day, we’re introducing Mother’s Day exercises that use the body and mouth.
In the body exercise, you use your hands and feet to form the characters for “Mother’s Day.” It can be done while seated, making it easy to try.
In the oral exercise, say the words “Mother’s Day” while opening your mouth wide to work the muscles around the mouth.
By placing your hand on your abdomen as you speak, you can focus on your breathing as well, which provides a healthy stimulus.
Please give it a try!
[For Seniors] Recommended Events for May: A Roundup of Crowd-Pleasing Ideas (31–40)
Hyakunin Isshu
May 27 is Hyakunin Isshu Day.
It’s a great opportunity, so I’d like to introduce it.
It is said that this date marks the creation of the first Hyakunin Isshu, because Fujiwara no Teika—a court noble and poet active from the Heian period to the early Kamakura period—selected representative poems by 100 poets from collections such as the Kokin Wakashu and the Shin Kokin Wakashu.
While it’s commonly played like a card game (karuta), it’s actually quite profound.
As you memorize the verses, locate the card being read, and snatch it, your mind is rapidly cycling through comprehension, thinking, judgment, and action.
It also works well as brain training and can be enjoyed by multiple people, so it’s recommended as a recreational activity in senior care facilities.
Foot bath with iris-infused water
While Tango no Sekku is known as Children’s Day, its original meaning—warding off evil and praying for good health—brings blessings to everyone.
So today, we’d like to introduce a foot bath using sweet flag (shobu).
All you need is a large container, hot water, and shobu.
That’s it.
Fill the container with hot water and float the shobu on top.
Since the leaves could potentially irritate the skin, chopping them into small pieces and placing them in a mesh bag allows you to enjoy it safely.
The expected benefits include promoting circulation, relieving fatigue, strengthening the internal organs, easing sensitivity to cold, and alleviating stiff shoulders, making it especially pleasing for older adults.
You can find shobu at supermarkets or florists, so please give it a try.
Head and shoulder massage
Giving a head and shoulder massage on Mother’s Day is a wonderful way to show your appreciation, and it’s highly recommended.
Playing some relaxing music while you massage can help create an even deeper sense of calm.
For a head massage, the key is to use pressure that comes from your elbows and gently massage as if you’re grasping the scalp.
This can help ease muscle tension and pain, providing a pleasant, soothing sensation.
For the shoulder massage, loosen the shoulder muscles with friction as you work.
It may also be a good idea to use a massage cream, but be sure to check for any allergies beforehand.
May calendar
Let’s make an exciting May calendar full of holidays! Try drawing carp streamers for Children’s Day on the calendar, or flowers that bloom in May like roses and irises…
Instead of just drawing, you could also make these with origami! Sensing the seasons in this way is very important for older adults.
It’s easy to print the dates from the internet, but you might also have them write the numbers themselves as a form of brain training.
Add some color to the holidays and create a bright, cheerful calendar!
Let’s sing the May song.
The warm season of May puts you in a buoyant mood, doesn’t it? At times like that, be sure to sing some May songs to feel even brighter.
In May, there are classic Children’s Day songs like “Koinobori” and “Sekurabe.” Many older adults know these children’s songs, so open your mouth wide, sing out loud, and boost your energy! By the way, did you know there’s also a song that uses the kanji for koi, titled “Koi-nobori” (鯉のぼり)? It’s another cheerful tune that’s perfect for the season, so please give it a try! In fact, seniors might be even more familiar with it.