Crafting engages both the brain and the body. Seniors who craft regularly enjoy less stress, and you can plan crafts that target areas your senior loved one needs to work on, such as hand dexterity. These six craft ideas can get your loved one’s creative juices flowing while also helping him or her pass the time.
1. Knitting for Charity
Knitting and crocheting are perfect crafts for keeping the hands strong, and your loved one can choose increasingly challenging patterns to keep his or her mind active. Seniors can request yarn donations from family, friends, and members of the community to make blankets, scarves, and hats for charity, which keeps the cost of the craft low while also providing a sense of purpose.
Needlecrafts may be difficult for seniors with arthritis, impaired vision, or other age-related health conditions that make it challenging to manage daily activities on their own. If your aging loved one needs help managing everyday tasks or encouragement to adopt healthier lifestyle choices, turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of elder care. Barrie Home Care Assistance provides professional in-home caregivers around the clock to help seniors live longer, happier, and healthier lives.
2. Making a Collage Board
Personal photos are a great craft supply you can use as a springboard for conversations with your loved one to jog his or her memory. A collage board can be made using your parent’s favorite pictures. Simply have copies printed out and provide your loved one with a board and some glue. Your loved one can also add pictures from magazines that fit the theme he or she has chosen.
3. Building a Birdhouse
Birdhouses are simple woodworking projects seniors can do even if they’re no longer able to safely use a saw. You can buy your loved one a kit or provide pieces of wood already cut into the right sizes. Making a birdhouse may encourage your loved one to go outside regularly, and he or she can continue making new ones to give to neighbors.
4. Trying Pour Paint Wall Art
Pour painting is one of the most popular crafts right now, and this style of art is perfect for seniors with limited mobility. It’s also great for seniors who claim they aren’t crafty, since there’s no right or wrong way to pour the paint. Every painting turns out unique, and the finished products can be used for wall art or gifts.
Hobbies such as painting can boost overall wellbeing for seniors, and physical, mental, and emotional support from a home caregiver can do the same. Senior home care agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Home Care Assistance, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. We offer a revolutionary program called the Balanced Care Method, which encourages seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy.
5. Creating Shaped Crayons
Older adults with grandchildren can ask the kids to donate their broken crayon pieces. Then seniors can melt the pieces in cupcake pans or specially shaped molds to create fun new shapes. Your loved one might need help handling the pans of melted wax, so make sure a family member or caregiver is always nearby. After the wax shapes have cooled, your loved one can then wrap them up as gifts for the grandkids or donate them to a local school.
6. Putting Together Model Cars
Putting a model car together requires thinking logically through each step of the procedure. Seniors must also use their fine motor skills to put the pieces in the right places and finish the projects with paint and decals. Seniors who get into model car building can join groups where they can engage in competitions or just enjoy working with other people.
A home caregiver can be a wonderful crafting partner for your loved one. For families living in Barrie, respite care can be a wonderful solution when their aging loved ones need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just need minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Home Care Assistance, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home. Reach out to one of our Care Managers today at 647-970-3803 to schedule a free in-home consultation.