[For Seniors] Make it a special day: A roundup of birthday party activities for nursing homes
Birthday parties held at nursing homes and other senior facilities.
Many staff members probably put a lot of thought into making them enjoyable every month, don’t they?
Since a birthday only comes once a year, you want to celebrate it in a special, lively way.
In this article, we introduce birthday-themed recreational activities that seniors will enjoy.
We’ve gathered fun ideas that everyone can enjoy together while celebrating—perfect for creating lots of happy memories.
Some programs feature staff performances, but it gets even more exciting when the birthday honoree can join in, too.
Wishing you a fun and wonderful birthday.
- [For Seniors] Simple Recreational Activities You Can Enjoy While Seated
- Entertainment and Performances That Delight at Day Services for the Elderly
- [For Seniors] Easy and fun seated activities you can do in your room
- [For Seniors] Recreational Activities Enjoyable in Large Groups
- [For Seniors] Guaranteed to Be a Hit! Popular Day Service Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Today’s Recommended Activity: Fun and Engaging
- [For Seniors] Celebrate at the Care Facility! Handmade Birthday Card Ideas
- [For Seniors] Have Fun! A Collection of Group Game Recreation Ideas
- [For Seniors] Easy to try. Fun, crowd-pleasing recreation
- [For Seniors] Simple Tabletop Games: Fun and Engaging Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] What's in the Box? A Collection of Exciting Content Ideas
- [For Seniors] Fun Recreational Activities Without Equipment
- [For Seniors] Enjoy safely even during the COVID-19 pandemic: Seated activities
[For Seniors] Make it a special day: A roundup of birthday party activities at nursing homes (1–10)
makeup
Creating time for makeup during a birthday recreation activity seems likely to bring smiles to the residents’ faces.
I think many residents feel especially strong emotions on their birthday, a day when they’re the star.
It’s wonderful to receive makeup on such a special day.
Having someone do the makeup that they can’t easily do themselves can be a nice change of pace and lift their spirits in many ways.
When doing makeup, be sure to ask about the resident’s preferences and use clean makeup tools.
All-you-can-pack gift game
Let me introduce a lively party game that everyone can enjoy at a birthday celebration.
Speaking of birthdays, you usually prepare presents, right? In this game, you use pretend presents made from tissue paper or fabric and have fun by putting them into bags.
Whoever puts the most game presents into the bag wins.
It’s a game you can play seated at a table, so it seems well-suited for many older adults to join.
Forming small teams and competing against each other will make it even more exciting.
Through the game, conversations will flow and social connections will grow.
commemorative photo
Let’s capture photos of the older adult celebrating their birthday.
The party where everyone had a great time—those feelings might be preserved in the photos, too.
When taking pictures, you might create a birthday-appropriate backdrop behind the chair where the older adult will sit.
Seeing the finished photos will likely make them even happier.
It’s also a great idea to attach a photo to a birthday card, add a message, and give it as a gift to the older adult.
[For Seniors] Make it a special day. Roundup of birthday party activities at nursing homes (11–20)
Season of Love
Let’s perform a dance to Pinky & the Killers’ song “Koi no Kisetsu” for an older adult’s birthday.
Just like Pinky & the Killers, wear a rounded derby hat with a curled brim and dance.
Of course, singing is a great option too.
Both the dance and the song set to “Koi no Kisetsu” are likely to delight seniors.
Some may even have personal memories connected to this song.
As they listen, it might bring back recollections of those days.
It’s a recreation activity that can spark conversation and make the celebration even livelier.
Matsuken Samba
Released in 2004, “Matsuken Samba” is apparently still popular today.
The Matsuken Samba collaboration café held in Shibuya, Tokyo, drew huge crowds—the numbered tickets sold out, and the items on sale became a hot topic.
Many people, including seniors who might find it energizing, seem to love “Matsuken Samba.” Ken Matsudaira singing and dancing in dazzling costumes leaves a strong impression.
If you perform the song and dance from “Matsuken Samba” at a birthday party, it’s sure to be a hit.
Of course, we also recommend that the staff members performing wear flashy, glamorous outfits.
Slideshow
How about taking a moment to look back on past memories at the milestone of a birthday? If you use a slideshow with background music, like flipping through a photo album, it makes it easy for them to savor those memories.
It’s recommended to create it with a clear theme—such as focusing on photos that revisit memories at home, or content that traces the person’s life.
Also note how the choice of music can change the atmosphere: gentle BGM can steer it toward something moving, while lively BGM can make it feel fun.
Shopping Boogie
“Kaimono Boogie” was released in 1950 (Showa 25) and became a big hit.
Many seniors have probably heard it, haven’t they? It has also been covered by many artists up to the present day.
With its cheerful, lively melody, just listening to “Kaimono Boogie” makes your heart feel light.
Why not have the staff put on a dance performance to the song? If you dress up like a housewife going shopping, wearing an apron, it’ll be perfect.
Both men and women can get into character as housewives and perform the dance for a fun birthday party.
It’s sure to satisfy the seniors as well.