[For Seniors] Introducing May-themed Origami!
Origami is a popular recreational activity in senior care facilities.
Finger exercises are effective for stimulating the brain, and displaying completed pieces or feeling a sense of accomplishment adds to the enjoyment.
May is a month filled with events, such as Children’s Day and Mother’s Day.
So this time, we’ll introduce origami with a May theme.
Origami that activates both the fingers and the brain while feeling the season—and offers a sense of achievement—can be considered an ideal recreation for older adults.
By all means, try making May-themed origami together with the older adults around you.
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[For Seniors] Introducing Origami Inspired by May! (41–50)
Wisteria in papercutting
Wisteria trellises swaying in the breeze are so lovely—they truly capture people’s hearts.
Some of you may look forward to visiting wisteria trellises in spring, while others, especially seniors who now find outings difficult, may have fond memories of touring famous wisteria spots.
In this article, we’ll introduce paper-cut wisteria flowers you can enjoy indoors.
That’s the beauty of crafts—you can enjoy them regardless of the weather or your ability to go out! Using blue, purple, and light-purple origami paper, we’ll make small petals.
It helps to draw lines with a pencil before cutting.
Leave the petals unattached without glue on purpose, so they flutter lightly and create a soft, swaying look.
Work together to make plenty of petals and create a beautiful wisteria trellis!
[For Seniors] Introducing Origami Related to May! (51–60)
Wisteria flowers made with origami
Here’s an idea for wisteria flowers that will instantly brighten up a room when hung from walls or the ceiling.
Prepare origami paper in purple, light purple, yellow-green, and green, then fold the flowers and leaves.
Make the flowers using origami cut in half.
Fold the paper in half lengthwise, unfold it, and then fold both edges inward along the center crease.
Some of the steps are a bit detailed, but using your hands skillfully can help prevent cognitive decline.
The more wisteria flowers you make, the fuller and more beautiful the result will be, so please have the seniors divide the work and create them together.
Wisteria flowers made with origami or tissue paper
Let’s make wisteria flowers that sway beautifully.
The video uses tissue paper, but you can make them nicely with origami too! For the central stem, cut a strip of purple construction paper.
Prepare three different sizes of origami paper, as shown in the video.
Fold each piece in half, draw a flower shape, and cut along the lines.
Open it, fold it in half again, apply glue, and attach it to the stem.
By alternating and folding back the pieces in order of size, it looks beautiful from any angle.
Try making a vibrant hanging decoration using light purple, magenta, and pink origami paper!
Origami artwork: wisteria flowers
Let’s try making origami wisteria flowers in the style of tsumami-zaiku (pinching craft).
Fold the origami paper in half, then fold again leaving a small gap at the center and glue it in place.
Turn it over, fold in half, and glue the pointed tip side.
Insert a thin, elongated stick into the crease and gently spread it to create volume.
Make many petals using purple or light purple origami and layer them.
Create long, thin sticks, assemble them in a lattice-like structure, and attach the wisteria flowers to finish.
This project helps with hand exercise and rehabilitation, stimulating the brain and potentially aiding in dementia prevention.
How about using it as a recreational activity in a senior care facility?
Wisteria swaying
How about a hanging wisteria decoration with a realistic, three-dimensional look? Prepare purple, light purple, and yellow-green origami paper, bamboo skewers, and string.
The flowers are made from quarter-size origami sheets, so please cut them in advance.
Fold the colored side in half, then fold in half two more times.
Draw petal shapes with a pencil and cut them out.
Use a bamboo skewer to curl the tips of the petals into a gentle curve.
Make a small stick-shaped piece and attach it to the petals to complete each flower.
Then, adhere the flowers onto a long, narrow strip of yellow-green origami to build up a three-dimensional floral cluster.
Attach a string and hang it by the window—watch it sway softly in the breeze.
Simple wisteria flower
Introducing a wisteria flower made by combining many small flower parts.
Cut a standard sheet of origami paper into quarters and fold it as you would when making a crane.
Once you open and fold both sides only on the surface that will become the front of the flower, the blossom is complete.
Make lots of flowers and leaves and assemble them to create a lovely hanging wisteria decoration.
Because this project requires many parts, it’s perfect for recreational activities in senior care facilities.
Get everyone involved and enjoy making it together!
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.
