Crafts for Seniors

Health Benefits of Crafting

When you’re crafting, you’re creating decorative objects with your hands. When you’re creating those objects, you’re using your mind. That’s why crafting has cognitive benefits for older adults. Seniors who knit, for example, have to follow a pattern or create a pattern of their own. That stimulates both hemispheres of their brains.

Researchers say activities such as crafting can reduce a person’s chance of developing mild cognitive impairment by as much as 30 percent to 50 percent. That is your brain on crafting. Another study from Frontiers in Psychology found that arts engagement is an effective approach to reducing cognitive decline.1

Crafting is an accessible and affordable activity that many nursing homes, assisted living centers, and other senior centers can easily offer their residents. Some other health benefits of crafting are below.

• Crafting is often used as a source of art therapy for people with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Crafting lessens patients’ anxiety, reduces feelings of isolation, and brings about a general feeling of happiness. Some seniors with dementia choose to paint or color as their craft. It reminds seniors of happy memories when they were children and a time they enjoyed the same activities.
• Crafting creates positive well-being. A scientific study of over 7,000 adults in England found that they had a significantly higher level of happiness, life satisfaction, and sense that life was worthwhile after creating arts and crafts.2
• Crafting can also help battle depression. Studies have shown that during activities such as painting and drawing, the brain releases dopamine, which serves as a natural antidepressant for the body. The feel-good chemical benefits seniors and anyone who may be dealing with depression.
• Crafting improves fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Using scissors to cut, manipulating beads and small objects, and assembling pieces requires precision and keeps hands agile and nimble.
• Crafting can help build confidence and give seniors a sense of purpose. Being able to complete a project enables older adults to feel a sense of accomplishment. Due to aging, many seniors are unable to work on things they might have in the past, so they benefit from this confidence boost.
• Crafting together also prevents loneliness. Finding people who share the same interests, such as creating birdhouses or quilting, can reduce loneliness and foster friendships. Solo agers often deal with loneliness. AARP reminds us that the long-term health risks of loneliness for older adults can be deadly.3

Crafts for Seniors in Assisted Living

Many assisted living facilities acknowledge the benefits of crafting for older adults and incorporate them into the activities they offer.

You’ve probably noticed that adult coloring books have become popular lately. Even something as simple as coloring can help older adults with dexterity and motor skills. Research has shown that when adults color in patterns they often enter into a meditative state.

Arts-and-crafts activities that seniors can participate in vary from facility to facility. Below are some general crafting activities that are often offered in senior communities across the country.

• Knitting
• Sewing
• Coloring
• Ceramics
• Painting
• Collage-making
• Woodworking
• Paper airplane building
• Making holiday cards
• Making bookmarks
• Making paper flowers
• Making jewelry
• Making suncatchers
• Scrapbooking

If you are looking for a specific craft activity to take part in, ask if it is offered at your senior facility. If it isn’t, activity directors will often make every effort to add it to their program.

Crafting Ideas for Seniors

Many seniors who want to age in place at home are managing well by themselves. Others have aides, companions, and caregivers who enable them to remain in familiar surroundings while also providing assistance when needed. If you’re a senior who lives at home and is looking for arts-and-crafts activities to do with an aide, friend, or family member, there are plenty of options.

A search on the internet will give you lots of ideas. If you search Amazon for “crafts for seniors,” you’ll get over 10,000 results!

Below are some interesting crafts projects we found that may inspire you.

• Rock crafts: There are lots of crafts that can be done by adding beads and jewels to rocks. They make great paperweights, jewelry, and decorations. You can also create nature-inspired designs on rocks using simple colored markers or paint.
• Watercolor luminaries: All you need here is a mason jar, white coffee filter, and watercolor paints to get this project going.
• Photo cubes: This is a great way to keep memories alive. Use photographs and supplies from the arts-and-crafts store. Photo cubes are easy to create, and they make great gifts with lots of sentiment behind them.
• Photo frames: How about inserting a photo of you with your grandchildren in a frame you create? You can buy a premade frame or construct the frame yourself using foam board, popsicle sticks, or wood and glue.
• Lavender pillow: Lavender promotes relaxation. A lavender pillow is easy to make and can offer healing benefits while you sleep.
• Chocolate crafts: Make chocolate boxes or chocolate bingo cards, and then add yummy chocolate!

There are many other crafts ideas for seniors. Find what interests you and enjoy the activities while deriving many health benefits from the projects.