Creating something beautiful pays big dividends when it comes to feeling joy and a sense of accomplishment, especially for older adults. If your loved one seems bored and spends too much time with little to do, consider trying one of these easy crafts for seniors as well as crafts for dementia patients.
The impact that easy crafts for seniors can have on a person’s wellbeing
Crafting is more than a fun way to pass the time; it offers a range of benefits for older adults, particularly those with dementia. These include enhancing fine motor skills, improving a person’s level of focus, fostering social connections, lifting mood, and providing a sense of overall well-being and belonging.
Just think back to when you were a child. Didn’t your day get better when your elementary school teacher announced it was time for arts and crafts? Everyone enjoys making something, especially when it’s easy to do and others (such as family members, grandchildren, friends) can join in and share the fun.
Related: Unleashing Creativity: Arts and Crafts at St. Mark Village
Before you get started with DIY craft projects, here are key points for a positive outcome
- Keep it simple. Choose a craft project that can be done in a few easy steps.
- Make it familiar. For example, if your mother has always loved wearing jewelry, consider making simple beaded jewelry. If your dad was an avid gardener, making paper flowers or painting flowerpots might bring back happy memories.
- The more, the merrier. When coming up with crafts for dementia patients, remember that it’s often more enjoyable for them to work alongside someone on a craft project. If the goal is a family scrapbook, use the opportunity to talk about happy occasions from the past. If you are helping a loved one with beading, have the grandchildren lend a hand.
Related: Spending Quality Time with Family While in Senior Living
- Involve the senses. DIY crafts that involve different textures, colors, or aromas can spark memories and be a source of comfort for a person with cognitive issues.
- Praise, praise, praise! No matter the outcome, let your loved one know they did a great job.
5 easy DIY crafts for seniors and dementia patients
1. Beading. The beauty of beading DIY crafts is how simple it is and how easy it is to get started. You can involve children and other family members and turn it into a fun group event. Use beads with large holes and string of your choosing. (It’s a good idea to use elastic cording if you are wanting to make a necklace or bracelet.) Simply tie one end and start loading on the beads, then tie the other end when finished.
In addition to stringing beads, you could use buttons; most craft stores contain a wide assortment so finding some unusual ones is easy. The different styles of buttons can lead to conversation and spark some memories. You can tie a knot between each button if you like, but it’s not necessary.
And remember, a great option for restless grandchildren is to use something edible and fun…a necklace of Cheerios might be a popular choice!
2. Painting rocks. There’s something very soothing about finding a smooth stone and bringing it home as part of your décor. Rocks that have been painted with an inspirational message are called “kindness rocks.” They can be remembrances or simply carry a message of love. You could help your loved one paint their own rock or suggest that family members each come and paint rocks for your loved one or to be shared with others.
Find or purchase your rock, then wash it with soap and water. Let It dry in the sun. Then paint it with acrylic paint, making it as simple or as colorful as you choose. For the best results, let it dry overnight, then add a sealer (spray fixative) to help it stay shiny.
3. Decorating flowerpots. It’s hard to find anyone who doesn’t brighten up at the sight of flowers and plants, especially when they are grown in decorative pots. This is one of the best easy crafts for seniors, as well as one of the most popular crafts for dementia patients, because it provides an opportunity to be creative and improve motor skills.
You might choose to help your loved one cover a pot with colorful stickers. Or attach something natural, such as a few small twigs or leaves. Acrylic paint is easy to use, and because it is water-based, you can change your mind as you go. And there’s always special touches such as glitter or beads that can be applied.
This is one of those easy crafts for seniors that comes with a bonus: once the flowerpot has been decorated, you can assist your loved one in planting a flower or herb inside it. Easy choices are marigolds, petunias, basil and rosemary.
4. Assembling a scrapbook. Old photographs, ticket stubs, cards, stickers, pressed flowers…all are excellent ways to engage your loved one in a conversation. Not only can a scrapbook page bring back memories, it also is something they can look at over and over again. Work on one page at a time, perhaps giving it a theme, and help your loved one arrange the items with room for a caption to fill in important details.
5. Making paper flowers. There’s something about having flowers in a room that can really brighten a person’s day, especially when they had a hand in creating them. Making paper flowers with your loved one is simple and another of the easy crafts for seniors that the whole family can join in. All you need is colored paper, scissors, glue, and green pipe cleaners.
You can start by asking your loved one their favorite flower to get an idea of the shape to create. For example, a tulip, rose, buttercup, etc. Then help your loved one cut out corresponding petal shapes and attach them to the pipe cleaner stem with glue. Don’t forget to bring a vase or just use them as a decoration on a windowsill or top of a bureau.
At St. Mark Village, we believe in senior living that brings people together
Whether it’s art, music, making new friends, sharing experiences, or simply relaxing in an atmosphere that focuses on total wellness, it’s all about living the good life at St. Mark Village, where residents enjoy a continuum of care that includes seamless access to future care options. Let us tell you more.
Take our Lifestyle Quiz to help discover what matters most to you in senior living or contact us. We’d love to hear from you.
