[Christmas Party at the Nursing Home] Staff Take on the Challenge! Fun Performances Everyone Can Enjoy
At a nursing home’s Christmas party, the ideal performances are ones that residents and staff can enjoy together and really get excited about.
Activities everyone can join in create a sense of unity in the room and turn into wonderful memories.
In particular, performances that reveal an unexpected side of the staff—who spend time with the residents every day—are sure to be a big hit.
From music to handmade crafts to dance, we’ll introduce a variety of ideas that can liven up the event.
They can all be chosen to fit your preparation time and group size, so please use them as a reference! Let’s plan heartwarming Christmas performances that will bring smiles to everyone’s faces.
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[Christmas Party at the Nursing Home] Staff Take on the Challenge! Fun Performances to Get Everyone Excited (21–30)
line dance
The charm of line dancing lies in performers lining up in a row on stage and moving in sync with the same choreography and steps.
I imagine older adults would be moved to see the staff’s neatly coordinated steps right in front of them.
If it’s a performance for a Christmas party, it’s also a great idea for all the dancers to wear matching costumes like Santa Claus or reindeer.
A line dance set to Christmas-themed music would likely get the whole venue buzzing with excitement.
It could also serve as a conversation starter between staff and older adults in the days that follow.
dance
How about an original staff dance set to a song that all the residents are likely to know? It’s perfect as a performance for a Christmas party, and if you use a familiar tune with easy-to-remember choreography, the residents can imitate it on the spot.
Combine simple movements like raising and lowering the arms, swinging them forward and back, and marching in place to enjoy dancing together with the residents.
By making it participatory, even winter recreation can warm up the body and help everyone enjoy their time at the facility even more.
What a nice bath.
“Ii Yu Da Na” (“What a Nice Bath”) seems like a song that older adults would really enjoy.
One TV show that many seniors used to watch was “It’s 8 O’Clock! Everybody Gather ’Round!” It was sung during that show’s ending, so some people might be familiar with it.
It’s a fun, humorous song, and if the staff perform it with coordinated choreography, the unexpected twist could make it even more enjoyable.
It also seems like something seniors could join in on by clapping along while they watch.
Hige Dance
Speaking of the famous skits by Cha Kato and Ken Shimura, the “Hige Dance” is one of them, isn’t it? With a fake mustache under the nose, they perform silently, and the unique hand movements in the choreography draw laughs.
A Hige Dance act that once took the nation by storm is sure to satisfy older adults as well.
Even if you mess up—like the ball failing to stick to the sword—the playful charm of the Hige Dance will keep things lively.
It would be even more enjoyable to have seniors join in by helping with the performance.
Matsuken Samba
The glittering performance of “Matsuken Samba” would be a great fit for a Christmas party, wouldn’t it? “Matsuken Samba,” sung by Ken Matsudaira—famous from “Abarenbō Shōgun”—is something many older adults are likely familiar with.
Watching staff perform “Matsuken Samba,” everyone can hum along and share laughter with those around them, which should really liven things up.
If the staff wear authentic-looking costumes—kimono and wigs, for example—the older attendees will probably enjoy it even more.
And be sure to do the final call-and-response together with the seniors!
chorus
Speaking of Christmas, it’s also an event strongly associated with choirs—like scenes of hymns being sung in church.
In keeping with that image, how about giving the gift of a Christmas song choral performance? Many Christmas songs are classics for choir, so there are plenty of options to choose from—that’s another plus.
Staff members could perform, or you could set it up so that participants can join in easily; either way, it’s likely to be a hit.
A year-in-review slideshow
A slideshow collecting a year’s worth of memories is perfect for the Christmas party held at the end of the year.
By watching various events from the year and everyone’s everyday moments together, it’s sure to be heartwarming.
If staff add easy-to-read captions to the slides or share the stories behind each photo, it can also be a chance to reaffirm bonds with the participants.
It’s a recommended program that lets everyone welcome the New Year with the feeling that this year was fun, too.
