Lovely senior life

For Seniors: Simple and Fun! November Recreation Ideas

Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!
Work experience in a hospital as a physical therapistNakamū
I worked as a physical therapist at a general hospital for about four years. I’ve supported a wide range of patients, from those needing emergency rehabilitation to those doing rehabilitation at home at a comfortable pace. As a writer, I’d be happy to share health-related information with many people. Thank you, and I look forward to working with you!

Here are some November activities and recreations we recommend for older adults.

As November arrives, the scenery begins to shift from autumn to winter, and the temperatures drop quite a bit.

It’s a season where you can enjoy a different kind of seasonal beauty than in the height of autumn, but many older adults may find it hard to move as they’d like due to the cold and end up staying indoors.

With that in mind, this article gathers seasonal games and recreational activities that can be enjoyed indoors.

These ideas are also great for community gatherings and day service settings.

We hope everyone has fun together!

[For Seniors] Simple & Fun! November Recreation Ideas (1–10)

Persimmon decoration made with origami

Persimmon decoration made with easy origami (with audio commentary)

Persimmon decoration made with origami

Let’s make cute decorations using origami paper and colored construction paper.

You’ll need scissors, glue, a round stick like a chopstick, a toothpick, and some string.

Fold the origami paper into quarters, round off two corners, and create a flower shape with four petals.

Gather the tips of the petals toward the center and glue them together—this will be the body of the persimmon.

Attach a leaf made from origami in the same way, and it’s finished.

The result is three-dimensional and super cute, so it would be fun as a garland or a small decorative object.

You can also switch up the colors to make other fruits like mandarins or strawberries.

It may seem a bit challenging because it involves several steps—cutting, gluing, and curling—but you’ll feel a great sense of accomplishment when it’s done.

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Lower limb muscle strength exercises

[For Seniors] Lower Limb Exercises You Can Do in Day Service and Care Settings

Lower limb muscle strength exercises

As we get older, it’s only natural to feel reluctant to move around and to find our mobility decreasing.

That’s why it’s recommended to keep your body active with regular exercise.

Even while seated in a chair, doing proper lower-body exercises can benefit you in the long run.

It may be easier to understand the key points of these exercises if they’re explained in connection with everyday movements.

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Song and Exercises: “Autumn Leaves”

[Song and Exercise] 🍁Autumn Leaves🍁 'Care-Prevention • Sing-Along Activity' [With subtitles and translation]

Song and Exercises: “Autumn Leaves”

How about using the children’s song “Momiji (Autumn Leaves),” a classic that evokes the fall season, for a singing-and-exercise activity for older adults? Start the routine by opening your palms wide like maple leaves.

To the rhythm of the song, do simple movements such as raising and lowering the arms, rotating the shoulder blades, and swinging both hands.

“Momiji” features a beautiful, slow tempo that many seniors are familiar with, making it comfortable and enjoyable for exercise.

Even just singing helps activate the brain, so it’s great for preventive care and sing-along recreation for seniors.

Please feel free to use this as a reference!

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For Seniors: Simple and Fun! Recreation Ideas for November (11–20)

Autumn-themed word collection game activity

Endless Ideas! Autumn-Themed Whiteboard & Word-Collecting Recreation [Senior Exercise]

Autumn-themed word collection game activity

There are many kinds of brain-training activities that make you think.

Among them, there’s a word-collection recreation that uses a whiteboard and can be enjoyed by a large group.

For example, take the theme of “seasons.” Since it’s autumn now, we gather words associated with autumn—“sports in autumn,” “appetite in autumn,” “reading in autumn,” and so on.

Based on those associations, let’s collect related words.

For sports: soccer, baseball, judo.

For autumn flavors: pumpkin, fig, etc.

Games that collect words using specific kanji are also fun.

For the kanji “日” (day/sun), you can get words like “birthday,” “anniversary,” and “today.” It’s fun when everyone shares ideas and discovers something new together.

Also, many seniors are very knowledgeable, so hearing their various opinions teaches us a lot as well.

By all means, enjoy the word-collection recreation with a big group!

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Viva golf!

“Viva Golf!” (recreation activity at a day service)

Viva golf!

Many seniors may have enjoyed golf when they were working, right? That’s why we recommend “Viva Golf!” For this game, attach papers with point values to water-filled plastic bottles and line them up.

Participants then take turns using a deck brush—standing in for a golf club—to hit a tennis ball.

Naturally, the person who hits the highest-scoring target wins! It’s great to be able to enjoy golf indoors in chilly November.

You can even play while seated, so it’s fun for those who are concerned about their legs or back.

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Recreation using hoops

[Senior Recreation] Easy! Ring-Based Activities Part 2 [Elderly Care Prevention]

Recreation using hoops

There are many types of physical recreation activities for older adults, and one particularly exciting option involves using rings to get the body moving.

In this activity, a staff member holds a long stick, and participants throw rings aiming to hook them onto the stick.

Start at a slow pace.

As everyone gets used to it, gradually increase the speed to raise the difficulty—this is sure to liven things up.

It would also be fun to play music like the kind you hear during a relay race at a sports day while doing the activity.

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Mirror-writing brain-training exercise

[November 11 Today’s Brain Training & Care Prevention] Brain Training Exercises with Mirror Writing

Mirror-writing brain-training exercise

Did you know that November 11 is Mirror Day? To mark the occasion, here’s a brain-training exercise using mirror writing.

When letters are reflected in a mirror, they appear reversed, right? Try imagining those reversed letters and write them with one hand.

With your other hand, write the letters the correct way.

By thinking about and visualizing the reversed characters, you can stimulate your brain and expect a brain-training effect.

You might start with the Japanese syllables a-i-u-e-o and gradually increase the difficulty.

It could also be fun to write words or song lyrics.

It’s said that finding it a bit challenging boosts the brain-training benefits.

Since you can do this while seated, it’s an easy exercise for older adults as well.

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