[Nursing Home] Recommended for Sports Day! Lively Recreational Activities
The sports day is the big annual event at the nursing home, isn’t it?
Many residents look forward to it.
This time, we’re introducing recreational activities that adapt classic sports day ideas for older adults.
They’re recommended because they help stimulate both the body and the brain.
With safety in mind, many of the activities can be done while seated, so everyone can take part with confidence.
From exciting team competitions to activities that build a sense of unity among residents and staff, we hope you’ll host a fun sports day that brings everyone together.
- [For Seniors] A Fun Sports Day! Recreational Activities You Can Do Safely
- [Elderly Care Facilities] Let’s Have Fun Together! Exciting Sports Day Events
- [For Seniors] Exciting Team-Based Recreational Activities
- Recommended Events for a Sports Day at Day Service Centers for the Elderly
- A funny athletes’ oath to liven up the start of the sports day
- [For Seniors] Simple Recreational Activities You Can Enjoy While Seated
- [For Seniors] Easy and fun seated activities you can do in your room
- [Get Fired Up!] Classic Sports Day Events: Ideas for Popular Races and Games
- [For Seniors] Recreational Activities Enjoyable in Large Groups
- [For Seniors] Enjoy safely even during the COVID-19 pandemic: Seated activities
- For Seniors: Fun and Lively Exercise Recreation
- [For Seniors] Refresh Your Mood! Lively, Get-Moving Games
- [For Seniors] Enjoyable Day Service: A Collection of Fun Event Ideas
[Nursing Home] Recommended for Sports Day! Exciting Recreational Activities (71–80)
Balloon holder bag with a string
Here’s a string-and-balloon game that’s sure to liven up spring events and gatherings.
Have several older adults sit in chairs facing each other, each holding one end of a string so that paired participants are connected and keep the string taut.
By moving the string up and down or sliding it side to side, they work together to carry a balloon to the goal.
Cooperation is key in this game.
Because participants call out to each other as they play, it naturally encourages communication as well.
Fluffy ball
Let’s have fun with a game where you compete for points using balloons.
Inflate a balloon and tie a string to it with a weight attached to the end.
Before you start, write point values on the floor.
Aim for the spaces with the written points and throw the balloon.
The person who scores the most points wins.
The trick seems to be to swing the weight firmly as you throw the balloon.
Throwing the balloon can also be an effective workout for the upper body and arms.
Since balloons aren’t very heavy, there’s little risk of injury if they’re dropped, which is nice.
Makimaki Apple Game
For a recreation activity in a caregiving setting, we propose the “Makimaki Apple Game”! First, place paper apple cutouts on a sheet of construction paper and attach them.
Set them a short distance away, then connect the stick and the paper with clear tape.
By twisting the stick to wind up the tape, you pull the apple closer to you.
It would be very exciting to race with several people! By starting from the crafting step, participants can experience both making and playing.
Please give it a try together and have fun!
[Nursing Home] Recommended for Sports Day! Exciting Recreational Activities (81–90)
Card flip
This is a simple card game where each card has a different color on the front and back, and players keep flipping them to a designated color.
It’s basically a competitive format: both players flip cards to their own color and compete to see which color is more prevalent when time runs out.
Consider rules like allowing flips with only one hand to help balance participants’ abilities as much as possible.
A 2-on-2 team match is also recommended, as it gets heated by emphasizing not just speed but strategy as well.
Kick Darts
This is a game where you sit in a chair and kick a beanbag into the air, aiming to land it on a high-scoring area of the dartboard in front of you.
It helps develop the leg strength needed to send the beanbag to a distant dartboard and the ability to control force to reach the target spot.
The farther the dartboard is, the more power is required, so have participants try at distances suited to their stamina and muscle strength.
If you run it as a face-to-face match, players will likely focus even more as they try to beat their opponent.
A great conversation starter! Ball exercises perfect for recreational activities
This is a recreation activity that uses a ball to facilitate smooth communication.
Decide on a topic, and the person holding the ball says a word or phrase that matches the prompt, then passes the ball to the next person.
If everyone keeps up the pace while thinking of words that fit the prompt, it can also serve as brain training.
You can make it more exciting by adding various twists, such as using quiz-style prompts to add a thinking element or getting creative with how the ball is passed.
Starting with self-introductions and gradually moving to more difficult prompts can also help build teamwork among the group.
Korokoro Pon Game
Here’s a tabletop game that uses balls.
Prepare balls of different sizes, such as ping-pong balls or rubber balls about the size of a fist.
An older adult rolls a ball from one end of the table.
On the opposite side of the table from where the older adult is rolling, hang a basket.
The game is to roll the ball and get it into this basket.
It can be played while seated, so it seems suitable for older adults who use wheelchairs as well.
Moments like “It almost went in but didn’t!” are likely to make it exciting for the participants.