Lovely senior life

[For Seniors] Introducing May-themed Origami!

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.
Physical Therapist / WriterKawamura Mina
From a physical therapist to a writer, driven by the desire to travel the world with just a laptop. I’ve traveled to over 20 countries. I hope to deliver writing that many people are glad to have discovered. Thank you in advance.

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.

[For Seniors] Introducing Origami Related to May! (51–60)

Hydrangeas and a snail

Easy with a stapler: Make a hydrangea with origami (with audio commentary)

Hydrangeas and a snail

Here’s a lovely idea featuring beautifully colorful hydrangeas and a little snail.

First, prepare small sheets of origami paper.

If you don’t have small ones, you can quarter a standard sheet to make the same size.

Crease the paper, secure it with a stapler, then open it up to form a flower.

Once you’ve made about ten, gather the flowers and glue them together.

If you attach them closely, you can create a full, realistic hydrangea look.

With such pretty hydrangeas, even the snail seems to be having fun.

Even on gloomy, rain-prone days, this decoration will brighten up your room—so give it a try!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

After the rain

[Craft Idea] After the Rain (June Wall Decorations: Senior Recreation, Day Service, Occupational Therapy OT, Childcare) (Umbrellas, Teru Teru Bozu, Hydrangeas) (Origami DIY, Easy Crafts)

After the rain

When the gentle rains of the rainy season stop, it lifts your spirits.

Of course, it’s also a life-giving rain, and the rainy season is an important time, so there are people who welcome it too.

How about expressing a little scene unique to June’s stretch of rainy days with origami? Here’s an origami craft inspired by the clearing after rain.

Try making a closed umbrella, hydrangeas, and teru-teru bozu.

The finished pieces will look lovely as wall decorations or mounted on a backing sheet.

Older adults can also feel the season through making these crafts, and their rainy-season stories might make for lively conversation.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Snail on a Rainy Day

[Paper Chain Craft Idea] Snail on a Rainy Day (June Wall Decorations: Snail, Hydrangea, and Raindrops with Paper Chains) (Senior Recreation, Day Service, Occupational Therapy, Crafting, Origami, DIY)

Snail on a Rainy Day

We’d like to introduce “Snail on a Rainy Day,” a wall decoration that’s perfect for finger dexterity training.

The various steps—folding paper, making rings with thin strips of origami, and cutting paper with scissors—send different kinds of sensory input from the hands to the brain each time, which helps activate brain function.

In addition, hands-on activities are said to improve cerebral blood flow compared to tasks that don’t use the hands, so they may help prevent cognitive decline.

Because it’s enjoyable and can also serve as brain training, it’s recommended as a recreational activity for senior care facilities.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Snails and hydrangeas

[Craft Idea] Snails & Hydrangeas — Snail’s Craft (June/Summer) (Easy 3D) (Wall Decoration) (Senior Activities/OT/Day Service) (Childcare) (DIY Papercraft Wall Decoration) (Creative)

Snails and hydrangeas

When you think of creatures associated with the rainy season in June, many people probably think of snails.

And for plants, it has to be hydrangeas.

If you decorate indoor walls with these two motifs, older adults may be able to enjoy a lifestyle that feels the season.

Let’s make wall decorations using construction paper and origami.

You can create a dynamic, three-dimensional look for the snail’s spiral shell by twisting origami paper.

For hydrangeas, crumple and roll up pieces of origami to make plump, rounded blossoms.

Since it involves plenty of finger and hand movement, it’s also a great project to make together with seniors.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

[For Seniors] Introducing May-Themed Origami! (61–70)

Bellflowers and Fireflies

[Craft Idea] Bellflower and Firefly (June/Summer) (Wall Decorations) (Senior Recreation, Occupational Therapy OT, Day Service) (Origami, 3D, DIY, Flower Craft)

Bellflowers and Fireflies

Have you heard of a flower called hotarubukuro (balloon flower/campion)? It blooms from May to July, which happens to coincide with firefly season.

There’s even a theory that the name “hotarubukuro,” meaning “firefly pouch,” comes from children putting fireflies into the bell-shaped flowers to play.

Let’s make hotarubukuro and fireflies out of origami—perfect for June.

These days, fireflies are harder to spot nearby.

Creating hotarubukuro and firefly crafts might help older adults remember their childhood.

While making the crafts, try listening to their nostalgic stories.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Colorful hydrangea flower wreath

How to fold an origami hydrangea flower wreath | Origami Hydrangea Flower Wreath Tutorial (NiceNo1)

Colorful hydrangea flower wreath

Let me introduce a hydrangea flower wreath made from origami.

All you need is glue, so it’s easy to prepare.

Once you’ve picked your favorite origami paper, attach a marker piece and keep folding while flipping the paper front and back.

It involves fine work with your fingertips, but that helps stimulate your brain.

Attach the finished flowers to each other and shape them into a wreath.

Be careful not to let them shift until the glue dries.

You can enjoy making them in sizes from small to large, and layering them makes the result even more beautiful.

Give it a try!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Koinobori decoration

[Children’s Day] Let’s make a carp streamer decoration. 🎏

Koinobori decoration

Here’s an idea for a carp streamer decoration in the style of a hanging scroll.

You can use origami carp and finish it in a way that suits the celebration of Children’s Day.

Fold the carp out of origami paper—Japanese patterns or other designs are recommended.

Attach crepe paper and washi to create a hanging scroll backing, then stick the origami carp onto it.

Making and attaching a windsock (fukinagashi) alongside the carp will look lovely as well.

Displayed on the wall like a hanging scroll, it can help evoke the feeling of May even for older adults.

Alternatively, insert a stick into a paper cup weighted with clay and attach the hanging scroll to the stick.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem