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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Persimmon Ball Toss Game

Persimmon Toss Game for Autumn Recreation ♫ [Recreation for Seniors]

Persimmon Ball Toss Game

While enjoying the autumn atmosphere and stimulating the brain, how about trying a recreational activity called the “Persimmon Toss Game”? Making the persimmons is simple: crumple up some newspaper into a ball, wrap it all around with orange vinyl tape, and draw a leaf with a permanent marker—that’s it.

The persimmons are light and soft, so even if they hit someone, it won’t hurt, and you can throw them while seated—so enjoy the “persimmon toss” to your heart’s content.

Prepare a net like the ones used for fishing, and compete to see how many persimmons you can get into it, just like a ball-toss game at a sports day—it’s sure to be a hit!

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How to make an art box

How to Make an Art Box (Monthly Day, January 2022 issue) #dayservice #daycare #outpatientrehab #nursingcare #seniors #crafts #recycledmaterials

How to make an art box

Why not try making a slightly unusual art box using origami, which is often used in recreational activities? In addition to origami, prepare cross-sectional rings cut from a milk carton and tissue paper flowers.

You can find tissue paper flowers at 100-yen shops.

First, cut the origami into thin strips and shape them however you like.

Hearts or teardrops look cute, too.

Next, pack the shapes you made into the milk carton rings.

It will look neat if you fill it so there are no gaps.

Once finished, place your art box by a sunny window or in front of a lamp and enjoy the way it looks in the light.

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