[For Seniors] Fun and Engaging Recreational Activities in Nursing Homes

Let’s play frisbee

[Senior Recreation] Let’s Play with a Frisbee: Plastic Bottle Edition

Here’s a game using a frisbee.

Stand empty plastic bottles on the floor, and have the seniors throw a frisbee to knock them down.

Frisbees had a bit of a boom in Japan from the 1970s to the early 1980s, so some seniors may have played with them back then.

The game might also bring back fond memories.

Forming teams and competing for points can make it more exciting, but of course, it’s plenty of fun to play solo as well.

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Nakajima Junko

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Okonomiyaki Game

Recreation for seniors: Okonomiyaki game

Let me introduce an okonomiyaki game that’s guaranteed to get everyone excited.

Cut cardboard into circles, stick on printed okonomiyaki designs, and make about 20 okonomiyaki pieces.

The thickness of the cardboard is up to you, but if it’s too thin, flipping them might be a bit harder.

Once you spread the 20 okonomiyaki pieces out on a table, the game begins.

Use a spatula to flip the okonomiyaki one by one.

Time yourself, and when you’ve flipped them all, you’re done.

The challenge is how many seconds it takes to flip all 20! It’s great brain exercise too—highly recommended.

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mayumi

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handheld fireworks

Time-lapse of the fireworks festival at Warakuen elderly care home (August 2019)

On summer nights, a handheld fireworks recreation that seniors can enjoy with peace of mind offers a precious time to savor the season with all five senses while feeling the cool outdoor air.

Cheers may erupt at the colorful fireworks, and it might even bring back nostalgic summer memories.

Ensure thorough safety measures and solid support from staff.

Conversation among participants will increase, creating a lively space full of smiles.

Unlike indoor activities, the sense of openness and summery atmosphere are especially appealing.

It’s an ideal way to fully enjoy summer, perfect for events at senior facilities and for community engagement.

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kojifumi

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Pinball with a cup

[Cheerful Recreation 🏀] Make a super popular game by hand! Pinball with cups! Guaranteed fun!

Let’s make holes in a cardboard sheet and enjoy a pinball-style game.

It’s an arcade game that was popular from the 1970s to the 1980s.

You flick the ball and score points by hitting various mechanisms on the playfield.

Create features by cutting holes in the cardboard and standing up and gluing paper cups.

Tilt the cardboard that serves as the playfield and roll a ping-pong ball.

The player who has more ping-pong balls remaining in the basket set at the lower end wins.

The more holes you make in the cardboard, the higher the difficulty, so adjust the number accordingly.

With a design reminiscent of a nostalgic game from the past, it’s likely to be a hit with seniors as well.

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Nakajima Junko

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Simple Darts

[Senior Recreation] Easy Activities Using a Whiteboard [Day Service Recreation, Brain Training, Preventive Care]

Simple Darts is a fun game idea you can make using a small whiteboard and magnets.

Draw a large circle on the whiteboard with a smaller circle in the center.

Divide the large circle into eight sections and assign points to each one.

The center circle should be the highest score: 100 points.

Wrap the magnets in any fabric you like.

The rules are simple: throw the magnets at the whiteboard and compete based on the score where they stick.

It’s sure to be exciting as either an individual or team game.

You can easily prepare it since whiteboards and magnets are available at 100-yen shops.

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moko

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Fireworks game

“Fireworks game” to close out the summer. If you’ve had fewer chances to set off or go see fireworks, let’s make a grand display to end the season!

This is a target-throwing game themed around fireworks, an essential summer event, where you colorfully decorate the target.

The target is a hula hoop covered with tape, and you throw colored balls at it to decorate the adhesive side of the tape.

Since you need to throw with enough force for the balls to stick to the tape, the game tests not only your focus on aiming but also your ability to control strength.

You can freely choose the colors of the balls, so think about how you want to create your firework as you throw.

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kappamaki

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Rolling Curling Game

Indoor Solo Recreation for Seniors: 'Rolling Curling Game' Using Toilet Paper Cores and a Fan

Curling is a sport where you slide round stones with handles, called “stones,” across the ice.

A few years ago, curling even became a boom in Japan.

Here’s an idea for a casual game that’s like real curling.

Use a paper fan to roll toilet paper tubes and compete for points.

If you paint the toilet paper tubes or decorate them with origami paper to make them colorful, you can create a game that looks great, too.

It’s easy to make, so it seems like something you could enjoy together with older adults from the crafting stage.

Since it can be played while seated at a table, many seniors are likely to be able to participate.

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Nakajima Junko

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