Lovely senior life

[For Seniors] Enjoy May! Recommended Recreational Activities and Games

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.
Worked as a certified care worker for 17 years.Nanaka
I’ve been working as a certified care worker for 17 years. I’m Nanaka, a caregiving web writer. I decided to pursue this profession because I wanted a job that would help people. Having worked in day care for many years, I’ve experienced a wide variety of recreational activities. Exercise set to music, in particular, always created a cheerful atmosphere and was very well received. I’d be delighted to continue delivering writing that resonates with readers through caregiving-related articles. Thank you for your support.

May is full of events, isn’t it?

Did you know that in addition to Children’s Day and Mother’s Day, there are also days like Makeup Day and Hyakunin Isshu Day?

In this article, we’ll introduce May-themed recreational activities and games for seniors.

It’s perfect for those thinking, “What should we do for May activities?”

With the warm weather, why not enjoy recreation not only indoors but also outdoors?

These activities will enrich the minds and bodies of older adults.

Let’s savor the feeling of the season in May through these recreational ideas.

[For Seniors] Enjoy May! Recommended Recreational Activities and Games (1–10)

Koinobori Exercises

[Koinobori] Easy to do while seated! “With 2 DVDs & CDs: 32 Lively Senior Exercises with Seasonal Songs, Full Color” #5

Koinobori Exercises

This is the Koinobori Exercise, a routine you do to the children’s song “Koinobori.” It’s designed so that even those with weak legs can do it while seated in a chair.

Of course, you can do it standing as well.

It’s fun to move along to music that matches the season, isn’t it? We often feel reluctant to get moving, but exercising together is enjoyable, and you’ll feel refreshed and invigorated afterward!

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Making chimaki (bamboo leaf-wrapped rice dumplings)

[Sweets Recipe] Chimaki

Making chimaki (bamboo leaf-wrapped rice dumplings)

Chimaki, the rice dumplings familiar from the Boys’ Festival (Tango no Sekku).

In the spirit of their original meaning—prayers for health and safety—here is how to make them.

Prepare non-glutinous rice flour, glutinous rice flour, granulated sugar, and water.

Add the ingredients in several batches, mixing each time to avoid lumps.

Once the mixture comes together, heat it in the microwave while checking the texture, aiming for a translucent, glossy finish.

Place it on a damp, well-wrung cloth and knead until elastic, then briefly cool it by dipping in cold water to remove residual heat.

Cut the mochi into long, thin pieces and shape them into cones.

Place two bamboo leaves slightly offset with the glossy side up, set a piece of mochi on top, and wrap.

Thread igusa (rush grass) through and tie it around the leaves to finish.

Before eating, you may find yourself reminiscing about childhood and sparking lively tales of days gone by.

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Caregiving Exercise “Tea Picking”

[Elderly Care Exercise] Tea Picking

Caregiving Exercise “Tea Picking”

Hachijūhachi-ya refers to the 88th day counting from Risshun (the first day of spring in the traditional calendar).

Since ancient times, it has been used as a guideline for starting agricultural work such as tea picking and rice planting.

This time, we will introduce an exercise set to the music of “Chatumi” (Tea Picking).

First, let’s check your body movements as a warm-up.

The motions follow the lyrics, so they’re easy to remember.

If you do it to the music, don’t forget the rhythmic claps at key points.

At first, you may find yourself focused on the movements, but once you get used to them, you can enjoy various variations, such as changing the tempo or doing it while singing.

Performing multiple activities at the same time—moving your body while thinking and singing—can also be expected to have brain-training benefits, making it recommended as a recreational activity in senior care facilities.

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[For Seniors] Enjoy May! Recommended Recreational Activities and Games (11–20)

Mother’s Day event

Even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, make it vibrant with roses and carnations! Mother’s Day Event ♪ [Good Time Living Kōrigaoka]

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.

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Rice Planting Game

[Seasonal Care Activity] Rice Planting Game!!

Rice Planting Game

Around May, it’s the season when rice planting becomes more common.

If you live near rice paddies, you can enjoy the sight of fields turning green with newly planted rice.

Let’s bring that scenery to life with a rice-planting game designed for seniors.

These days, rice planting is usually done with machines.

However, in this game, players “plant” felt pieces instead of rice seedlings by hand.

Prepare a cardboard board with round holes cut out to represent the rice field.

The person who plants the most felt “rice” into the holes wins.

Playing this rice-planting game may help some seniors recall their memories of planting rice in the past.

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Foot bath with iris-infused water

On Children's Day, let's take a shobu (iris) bath! For Children's Day footbaths, make it a shobu (iris) bath.

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.

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Samurai helmet made from construction paper

Wall decoration for Boys’ Day in May made with colored construction paper: “Samurai Helmet”

Samurai helmet made from construction paper

Here’s a perfect May craft: a samurai helmet made from construction paper.

While you can make a helmet with origami, using construction paper lets you create a three-dimensional version.

Cut the construction paper according to the template.

It’s easy if you use a store-bought template or one you’ve downloaded.

Make slits with scissors and glue the pieces to assemble the helmet.

This three-dimensional helmet craft is likely to be enjoyable for older adults as well.

Once it’s finished, you can display it on the wall or take it home and decorate with it there.

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