For Seniors: Simple and Fun! November Recreation Ideas
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] Fun Autumn Activities: Recreation Games
- [For Seniors] Recommended Trivia Quizzes & Fun Facts for November
- [For Seniors] Let’s Make It Together! Wonderful November Wall Decoration Ideas
- [November Health Topic] Indoor Recreation Ideas for Older Adults
- [For Seniors] Day-service activities also recommended! Craft ideas for November
- [For Seniors] Guaranteed to Be a Hit! Popular Day Service Recreational Activities
- For Seniors: Easy and Delicious! November Snack Activity
- [For Seniors] Liven Up November Day Services! Fun Autumn Event Ideas
- [For Seniors] Simple crafts that feel like autumn: a fun creative activity
- [For Seniors] Simple Recreational Activities You Can Enjoy While Seated
- [For Seniors] Simple Tabletop Games: Fun and Engaging Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Have Fun! A Collection of Group Game Recreation Ideas
- [For Seniors] Fun and Lively! Recommended Quiz Questions
[For Seniors] Simple & Fun! November Recreation Ideas (31–40)
Snack Activity: Cheese Making
You can easily make mozzarella cheese using a few ingredients like milk, yogurt, and an enzyme called rennet! Add the ingredients to milk warmed in a pot and continue heating; the milk will begin to coagulate.
Cut the curd into small pieces and heat further, and it will separate into liquid and solid.
Warm only the solid part in the microwave.
Finally, knead it thoroughly; as you knead, it will become elastic, and your mozzarella cheese is done.
You can decide how to run the activity based on participants’ abilities—have them join from the very first steps or only take part in the final kneading stage.
Dish guessing quiz
Speaking of autumn, it’s the season that whets the appetite, isn’t it? For older adults, a fun recommendation is a “Guess the Dish” cooking quiz! I’ll list five ingredients, and you try to figure out what dish could be made from them.
It might be a bit challenging for people who usually eat without thinking much about cooking, but it could help you take more interest and savor your meals from now on! If you cook frequently, this quiz is right up your alley.
Trying to answer quickly also makes it great for stimulating the brain.
Even if you get an answer wrong, remember the ingredients—so the next time that dish appears, you’ll recall what goes into it.
Kabuki viewing
There’s a saying, “autumn is the season for the arts,” so how about trying a recreational activity where you enjoy art you don’t usually experience? For example, many older adults are interested in kabuki, but not that many have actually sat through a full performance from start to finish.
If you get the chance, please take this season to see kabuki live on stage.
balloon volleyball
Autumn, when it starts to cool down, is also the season for sports festivals.
We’d love to get outside and move our bodies, but that isn’t always possible for those who find going out inconvenient or on rainy days.
So how about playing volleyball safely indoors? Use vinyl tape to mark out a volleyball court and use balloons as the ball.
Because you use balloons, they’re light and easy for anyone to handle, and both participants and indoor items remain safe.
You can even play while seated in chairs, so everyone can enjoy it!
Onigiri lottery game
Here’s an introduction to an event inspired by the Niiname-sai festival on November 23.
During Niiname-sai, it is customary to eat the year’s new rice, so let’s enjoy an onigiri lottery game themed around fresh rice! You can even have older participants start by making paper onigiri.
Also, decide on several onigiri fillings in advance and assign points to each.
The rules are simple: participants draw an onigiri lottery slip, and the person whose slip shows a filling with the highest point value wins.
Having participants calculate the points themselves can turn it into a fun brain-training activity that livens up the event.
[For Seniors] Simple & Fun! November Recreation Ideas (41–50)
Karaoke Contest
A karaoke contest is a wonderful idea that can bring back fond memories for older adults.
Let’s spend a moment looking back on the past, carried by nostalgic singing voices.
By preparing lyric sheets and offering support as accompanists, we can create an environment where everyone can join in and have fun.
Choosing familiar songs, such as Kiyoshi Hikawa’s “Kiyoshi no Zundoko-bushi,” might also be a good idea.
As the season has us spending more time indoors, karaoke can warm both the heart and body.
Let’s work together to create a lovely time where older adults can take center stage.
kick bowling
With autumn being the season for sports, many people want to get moving, but there are many seniors who have physical limitations and can’t play conventional sports.
Kick bowling is a sport that even such seniors can enjoy.
In this game, you sit in a chair and kick a rubber ball or similar to knock down cardboard pins.
Because it’s done while seated, it’s relatively accessible even for those with limited mobility in their legs and hips.