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

Kero Kero Catchy

[Kero Kero Catchy] #BrainTraining #DayService #CognitivePrevention #ElderCare #Frog #shorts

Exciting recreation! Here’s an idea for Kero-Kero Catcher.

It’s a game where you catch balloons with frog illustrations on them and compete for points.

Track the balloons with your eyes and try to catch them firmly while enjoying their unpredictable, wiggly movements.

Prepare cardboard or empty boxes, balloons, plastic bags, and tape, and make your own Kero-Kero Catcher.

Once you get the hang of it, it could be fun to assign different point values to each balloon color!

Smart ball made with 100-yen shop materials

How to Make a Smart Ball Game with 100-Yen Store Materials: Pegboard Craft, Summer Project, Pachinko, Corinth Game

How about planning the classic festival game “Smart Ball”? It’s very similar to pachinko, which many older adults know well, so playing it brings back nostalgic feelings.

You can buy a ready-made Smart Ball set, but they can be pricey, so it’s better to make one yourself.

For a small version, you can build it with materials from a 100-yen shop.

Attach wooden blocks to the four corners of a perforated board to make the base, and create a launcher at the lower right using a block of wood, a screw, and rubber bands.

Cut a large card case into a strip and install it along the inside top of the base.

Insert dowels wherever you like, hook rubber bands over them, and attach papers with point values.

Finally, add wooden legs to the back so the base is angled—and you’re done.

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sasashina

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Capsule Korokoro

This gets everyone super hyped ⬆️ The capsule rolls around~ 🤣 #seniorActivities #brainTraining #miniGame #shorts #dayService

You’ve probably seen capsule toy machines filled with toys and merchandise at arcades or supermarkets.

Let’s use those round capsules to play a lively game.

Attach a stick to an empty tissue box and use it to roll a capsule across a table.

The goal is to land the capsule in a target without letting it fall off the table.

To make the game even more fun, create gaps between the targets.

Placing the capsule without dropping it into the gaps is a great way for older adults to show their skill.

Cheering on the players and calling out to them can spark interaction with the people around them, too.

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Nakajima Junko

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Parachute Game

Parachute game 🪂 #recreation #olderadults #dayservice #preventivecare #games #elderlycare

A parachute gently descending through the sky.

Here’s a game that lets you play by dropping a plastic bag like a parachute.

Clip a few clothespins onto the open end of a plastic bag.

The clothespins act as weights to make the lightweight bag easier to throw.

Using a ring toss target as the landing spot works well.

Since neither the plastic bag nor the clothespins feel heavy, it seems safe for older adults too.

Also, throwing provides arm training, and aiming at a target helps improve concentration.

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Nakajima Junko

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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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Brain-training exercises that make you laugh

Brain-training exercises that spark laughter: recreational activities seniors enjoy, and health exercises.

The Nikko Kaido is a famous cherry blossom spot in Tochigi Prefecture.

Some older adults may have visited the Nikko Kaido to see the blossoms.

At the end of the Nikko Kaido is Nikko Toshogu Shrine, which is also known for the Three Wise Monkeys.

Let’s strike poses with our hands to match the Three Monkeys—see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.

When the cues are called—see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil—use your hands to cover your eyes, ears, or mouth.

If you call out “see no evil” but then cover your ears as a trick, it livens things up.

You can also increase the difficulty by, for example, adding a single clap when “see no evil” is called.

As older adults get used to it, gradually raise the difficulty and encourage them to keep challenging themselves.

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Nakajima Junko

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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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