[For Senior Care Facilities] Fun! Recommended Events for October
In October, the heat eases and there are more days when the sunlight feels gentle.
There are also plenty of activities like autumn sports festivals and Sports Day, as well as seasonal events such as the Harvest Moon and Halloween.
October is full of fun.
Why not plan recreational events that let older adults enjoy the atmosphere of October?
Here are some event ideas, full of October flair, that seniors can enjoy.
Let’s bring seasonal joy to seniors, who may spend similar days, through events that highlight the time of year!
- [For Seniors] Recreation Games Related to October Events
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- [For Seniors] Fun Brain Training! Quizzes Recommended for October
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- [Day Service] Craft Ideas for Seniors to Make in October
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- [For Seniors] Making October Calendars: A Roundup of Recommended Motifs
[For Senior Care Facilities] Fun! Recommended Events for October (1–10)
fashion show
October 1 is “Change of Wardrobe Day.” How about holding a fashion show to mark the occasion? Everyone might feel excited and thrilled by slipping into outfits they don’t normally wear.
For the women, let’s have makeup artists on hand to give them a full makeover, transforming them into versions of themselves they don’t usually see.
Let’s also prepare music and venue decorations with a fashion show in mind.
It’s a great idea to capture everything on video and in photos so you can enjoy it later.
Treasure Hunt Game
October 4 is designated as Lost-and-Found Day.
So here’s an idea I’d love to recommend: a treasure hunt game.
There are many ways to run a treasure hunt, but this time I’ll introduce an idea you can do while staying seated.
First, prepare some paper cups.
Turn them upside down and place the treasure items underneath.
You can also put slips of paper with questions or prompts for actions in addition to the treasures to make it more exciting.
Try coming up with ideas that add a nice thrill!
Fall prevention exercises
October 10 is “Fall Prevention Day” in Japan, based on a wordplay on the date.
Even if we’re careful every day, our legs and hips inevitably weaken with age.
How about incorporating a gentle, seated fall-prevention exercise session as an October event to help strengthen them without strain? A simple move is to sit in a chair, lift your foot, and straighten your knee—focus on stretching the front of the thigh.
To help you engage that muscle, place your hand on your thigh while doing it; it’s an easy and effective cue.
If the event helps raise awareness, it could become a healthy daily habit.
[For Senior Care Facilities] Fun! Recommended Events for October (11–20)
Jack-o’-lantern face-making game
A simple, reassuring activity that elderly residents in care facilities can enjoy is a Jack-o’-lantern version of Fukuwarai.
Participants place eyes, a nose, and a mouth freely onto a blank mask without facial features.
Known as a traditional Japanese game, it may evoke nostalgia for some older adults.
For a Halloween twist, prepare orange construction paper shaped like a pumpkin and separate facial features.
It’s enjoyable just to arrange the parts however you like, making it easy for seniors to join in.
It’s a unique activity that combines the fun of creating Fukuwarai with the special atmosphere of Halloween.
Chestnut Picking Game
For anyone who’s gone chestnut gathering, how about a nostalgic, autumn-themed recreation? First, prepare plenty of plastic bottle caps with pictures of chestnuts and acorns attached.
Using small tongs and baskets you can buy at a dollar store, compete to see how many chestnuts you can collect within a time limit.
Overcome obstacles like some caps being face down or confusing acorns mixed in, and try to gather as many chestnuts as you can.
You can enjoy it in different formats, such as competing by table or against the person sitting across from you.
Potato Digging Game
October is also the season when sweet potatoes are delicious, isn’t it? How about preparing a game themed around sweet potatoes? First, cut out pieces of cardboard and paint them to make sweet potatoes.
Next, use cardboard to build a fence about knee-high.
That’s all the setup.
Then, players sit on opposite sides of the fence and use tongs to toss the sweet potatoes into the opponent’s area.
The rule is that the player who tosses more sweet potatoes into the other side wins.
Balloon Parachute
October 22 is apparently Parachute Day.
How about preparing a recreation activity that evokes a parachute? For example, you could throw a balloon made to resemble a parachute toward a target.
You can simply aim for the target, or you could make the target like a dartboard and compete for points to make it more exciting.
First, try making the parachute-like balloons and think about what rules to use.
The method is simple: just attach a clothespin to the end of the balloon’s string.