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

Recreation using a bat and ball

[Senior Cognitive Training Exercises] Exciting! Recreational exercises using sticks and balls [Preventive Care]

This is a recreation activity where everyone sits in a circle and passes a ball or a stick to the next person, increasing the elements to think about by changing how the item is passed.

Start with a simple movement—passing a stick or ball to the person next to you—then, once everyone gets the feel for it, branch out into different forms.

For example, if you balance a ball on a stick and pass it along, it tests your sense of balance; clarifying which ability you want participants to focus on is an important point when designing the rules.

After setting the rules, increasing the speed or the number of items further stimulates brain activity.

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kappamaki

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Catch with a ball on one leg

One-Leg Only! A Group Ball Recreation for Seniors That’s Fun With or Without Paralysis

This is a recreational activity aimed at strengthening the power used to move the legs by rolling a ball with your foot and passing it to the next person.

Because you perform the entire sequence—catching the incoming ball and rolling it—using only one leg, you can really focus on how you move your foot.

Whether you kick the ball to roll it or use the sole of your foot will change the ball’s speed, so be mindful of that as you proceed.

Once you get used to it, it’s recommended to increase the cognitive challenge by getting creative with where you roll the ball or by increasing the number of balls.

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kappamaki

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Music Therapy Handbell Concert

Senior recreation: music therapy handbell concert❣️

Let me introduce music therapy using handbells.

In handbell ensembles, each person is responsible for specific notes on the scale, which actually requires a lot of concentration.

Even with familiar children’s songs, you need to remember exactly when to play your note.

The timing is important, and you also have to adjust the volume with your arm movements.

Because this sends a lot of stimulation to the brain, it can be expected to have brain-training effects.

In addition, since it is often done in groups, it naturally fosters interaction among participants, and the sense of accomplishment when it all comes together is exceptional.

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kojifumi

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Music Therapy: Fun with Rhythm

Music Therapy: Fun with Rhythm

Recreation that uses music is popular with many people.

This time, we’ll introduce ideas for rhythm-based music therapy.

When you move your body to a rhythm, it becomes a dual task: you have to both “listen” to the rhythm and “move” in time with it, processing these two actions simultaneously.

This creates a situation where the brain works to its fullest.

Above all, moving together to music tends to create excitement and a sense of unity, making it a fun activity for everyone.

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kojifumi

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Reminiscence Session: Nostalgic Tools from Early Showa Era

[Senior Recreation] Reminiscence Therapy Recreation Using Nostalgic Early-Showa-Era Tools [Day Service • Tools and Daily Life • Dementia Prevention]

Reminiscence therapy is a type of psychotherapy in which you choose a theme, recall past memories, and reflect on the scenery, environment, and your own self from that time.

To help you remember, it’s good to prepare photos or videos of tools you used in the past—or the actual items if possible.

By recalling details such as how the tool was used (“I used it like this”), when and under what circumstances (“I used it at night after finishing farm work”), or specific experiences (“I was scolded because I couldn’t use it well”), you can evoke a wide range of memories.

You may learn related episodes and even remember things the person themselves had forgotten.

When continued, this approach is considered to have beneficial effects on improving cognitive function.

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kojifumi

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Treasure Fishing

Okayama City Day Service Summer Festival Final Chapter Day 1

Let’s host a summer festival that gets participants’ hearts racing with excitement! Here’s an idea for a Treasure Fishing game.

When you think of a summer festival, many people imagine food stalls, right? This time, let’s try a treasure fishing challenge where you use a hook attached to a string to aim for and lift the ring attached to a prize.

The treasures can include snacks, drinks, tumblers, and small goods.

It’s fine to put them in transparent bags so the contents are visible, but setting them up in wrapping paper or paper bags so the contents are hidden could be fun too.

Be sure to give it a try!

Fox Dance

Let’s dance the “Fox Dance” in the caregiving setting! [Rehabilitation Day Salon ‘Umi’] Day service (daycare) in Yokosuka City

Let me introduce the Fox Dance that you can enjoy together with older adults.

It’s recommended because you can move your body while sitting in a chair.

After making a fox shape with your hands, use your arms and hands to dance.

The song has a quick tempo, but move within a comfortable range.

Once you get used to the moves, it could be fun to add some marching steps from the second round.

When it’s time to turn your neck, be careful to avoid falls.

The Fox Dance might be a great opportunity to spark new communication!

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mayumi

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