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[For Seniors] Recreational Activities at Special Nursing Homes That Everyone Can Join
In special nursing homes for the elderly, recreational activities are held frequently.
Among residents with a wide range of physical conditions living together, some staff members may be wondering, “Is there a recreation activity that everyone can enjoy?”
In this article, we introduce recreational activities that people with varying physical conditions can enjoy.
Recreation is important not only for maintaining motor functions and cognitive abilities, but also for deepening interaction with others.
We cover a wide range—from brain-training activities to those that involve physical movement.
Please use this as a reference!
[For Seniors] Recreational Activities at Special Nursing Homes That Everyone Can Join (1–10)
Guu-Choki-Paa Exercise
We’d like to introduce an exercise that stimulates the brain using the hand movements of rock–paper–scissors.
The hands contain many nerves, and by using the fingertips, a wealth of stimuli is transmitted to the brain—hence hands are often called the “second brain.” In this exercise, you not only go through rock–paper–scissors in order, but also reverse the sequence and add claps in between, continually delivering fresh input so the brain doesn’t get bored.
It also includes playful elements that are sure to make you chuckle.
Research suggests that laughter can boost immunity, so this makes for an ideal routine to help maintain health and prevent declines in cognitive function.
oral exercises
Oral exercises strengthen the muscles around the mouth, inside the mouth, and the tongue.
These important exercises help make essential eating movements—chewing and swallowing—smoother and help prevent aspiration.
Why not enjoy doing these valuable oral exercises together? Since they basically involve moving the mouth, you don’t need any equipment or space, making them an easy, on-the-spot recreational activity.
They’re often done to music as well, so staff can sing children’s songs, or you can play music from a computer or speakers while enjoying the exercises.
It’s great to let everyone train while having fun as a recreation.
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.
Reminiscence Session: Nostalgic Tools from Early Showa Era
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.
Karaoke Contest
Going out to karaoke can be a bit of a hassle, but a karaoke contest that you can hold in a facility or at home would likely be a big hit.
Singing out loud is also great for your health.
It’s a good idea to combine it with some light exercise and vocal warm-ups for everyone as a warm-up, and having people waiting for their turn keep time with instruments like bells or tambourines is also recommended, as it gives their hands a workout.
A karaoke contest is a surefire winner—give it a try!
Seated Rhythm Exercises to Classic Showa-Era Hits
This time, we’ll introduce a singing exercise routine that moves your body to nostalgic Showa-era classics.
Since it involves physical movement, it’s best to start with songs at a slower tempo.
When you move your body to music, your brain continuously engages in activities like keeping rhythm, coordinating movement, and deciding what to do next.
Because of this, the abundant stimulation activates the brain and is said to offer cognitive training benefits.
Once you get used to it, adding singing while you move can further stimulate your brain.
Do it within a comfortable range, and enjoy yourself as you go.
playing rock-paper-scissors after seeing the opponent’s move (i.e., acting with hindsight/cheating)
Aft-hand rock-paper-scissors is a recreation where you throw your hand in response to the already-shown hand according to the instruction “win,” “lose,” or “tie.” Because it’s an arrangement of a game everyone knows, it’s simple enough for anyone to join, yet it also serves as brain training that requires split-second judgment and quick hand movements.
You can also add various rules like “win with your right hand” or “lose with your left hand,” so you can keep it interesting without getting bored.
It can be played anywhere, so it’s highly recommended.