There are many healing properties associated with arts and crafts, especially for seniors. Doing arts and crafts can help to improve their quality of life by providing creative expression and a way to express themselves.
Other benefits include:
Cognitive stimulation: Arts and crafts can help to improve cognitive function and memory by providing a stimulating and mentally engaging activity.
Fine motor skill development: Activities such as painting, knitting, or pottery can help to improve fine motor skills and dexterity.
Sense of accomplishment: Completing an art or craft project can provide seniors with a sense of accomplishment and purpose.
Socialization: Participating in arts and crafts with others can provide opportunities for socialization and companionship.
Stress relief: Arts and crafts can be a relaxing and therapeutic activity that can help to reduce stress and anxiety.
A way to reminisce: Activities such as scrapbooking and collage-making can be a great way for seniors to reminisce about memories and events.
Activities to Try!
It’s worth noting that arts and crafts can be adapted to an individual’s abilities, and it’s important to consult with a health care professional to determine the best activities for a loved one, taking into account their specific needs and preferences.
Read this to gain a deeper understanding of dementia and how it may affect your family, and how you can provide assistance.
Painting: Painting can be a relaxing and therapeutic activity for seniors with dementia, helping to improve fine motor skills and providing a sense of accomplishment. Creating work in the style of different artists can be a fun way to remove the pressure of creating something perfect.
Collage making: Collage making can be a fun and creative activity that allows seniors with dementia to express themselves using different materials such as paper, fabric, or photographs. You can make mood boards based on different themes, such as what you’d like to achieve in the year or your favorite things.
Scrapbooking: Scrapbooking can be a great way for seniors with dementia to reminisce about memories and events. It can also create a beautiful log in case the condition worsens.
Pottery: Pottery can be a soothing and therapeutic activity that allows seniors with dementia to explore different textures and shapes. Getting your hands dirty and getting a feel for what you are creating can be incredibly fun!
Needlework: Needlework, such as knitting, crocheting, or cross-stitching, can be a calming and meditative activity for seniors with dementia. However, an activity such as this may need to be adapted for seniors.
Woodworking: Woodworking can provide a sense of accomplishment and purpose for seniors with dementia. It can be an especially good activity for those who are used to being practical and enjoy fixing things.
Origami: Origami can be a fun and challenging activity for seniors with dementia. It can help to improve fine motor skills and provide a sense of accomplishment. There are tons of amazing templates online; you can start easy and get harder.
Photography: Photography can be a great way for seniors with dementia to capture memories and express themselves. This activity can be combined with a gentle walk. Take a nature walk and photograph things of beauty. It’ll be amazing to get the photos developed and see how differently we each see the world.
Collage painting: Collage painting is a great way for seniors with dementia to explore different textures and colors and create a piece of art.
Card making: Card making can be a fun and creative activity that allows seniors with dementia to express themselves and also provide a way to connect with others. Cards can be made for all the big holidays, and then seniors can be assisted in writing notes to people from their past or present.
It’s important to keep in mind that these activities may require some adjustments to the activity. For example, it may be necessary to provide verbal cues and prompts or to simplify the activity. It’s important to consult with a healthcare professional to determine the best activities for a loved one with dementia, taking into account their specific needs and preferences. However, there are plenty of ways to make art assessable and enjoyable. So, get creating!
