Benefits of Crafting for Seniors

Seniors who are well into their advanced years may be living at home with a caregiver or even one of their adult children. They may also be cared for at a facility or nursing home with other seniors.

Regardless of a senior's living arrangements, there are many benefits of incorporating crafting-related activities into their routine.

While seniors may prove to be good at hobbies like gardening, cooking, or baking, they might bemoan being an absolute beginner at crafting.

And yet, there's no excuse for participating in crafting and exploring the creative process. There are a wide range of crafts to suit different levels of skills and creativity: beginner (or newbie), intermediate, advanced, and expert.

Activities like coloring, drawing, painting (even on surfaces other than paper or canvas, like eggshells, ceramic pots, or rocks), and origami are among the easiest crafts to get into.

Cardmaking and other paper crafts can be made as simple as possible, or more complex and intricate.

If sewing isn't possible, projects can still be finished by using fabric glue on appliques.

And seniors don't even need to get involved in crafting regularly or often to reap the long-term benefits. They can substitute an afternoon of watching TV shows or doing puzzles with crafting.

Many older adults notice a decline in their fine motor skills. Fine motor skills are what we use when we type a message or scroll on our phones, button our shirts, or feed ourselves.

Crafts like macrame, needlework, and crochet can keep fine motor skills among seniors sharp and refined.

Crafting Slows Down Aging

When seniors engage in crafting, many different areas of the brain are involved. This ultimately strengthens memory, processing, and problem-solving abilities.

Seniors With Alzheimer's Disease Can Benefit From Crafting

Even seniors with Alzheimer's disease can participate in crafting. The creative process delays the effects of Alzheimer's.

Caution must be taken by relatives, a caregiver, or therapist when presenting seniors with crafting- related activities, though.

While it's good to keep the brain stimulated for seniors with Alzheimer's disease, too much stimulation can lead to confusion and a feeling of being overwhelmed.

Safety must also be a priority for seniors. When engaged in a one-on-one crafting activity, make sure there aren't any sharp scissors or tools around.

When we do something pleasurable, our brain releases dopamine, which can have a positive effect in our moods.

Crafting can act as an anti-depressant without any side effects.

There may also be seniors who are now facing retirement, but used to be high-power or top executives at the workplace during their active years.

Instead of gradually being sedentary or unproductive, seniors in retirement can start crafting as a hobby.

Crafting can also be a key to keep retired seniors' self-esteem and self-image intact, especially if they used to be tied down or found fulfillment in their careers.

It's also worthwhile to keep in mind that there may be seniors who are undergoing physical therapy after suffering from a stroke or accident.

Incorporating a crafting-related activity at least once a week into a senior's routine can help ease the dreariness and monotony of physical therapy.

Socializing must be encouraged well into old age. Isolation can be a breeding ground for loneliness, which can lead to depression.

There are tremendous benefits in keeping contact with like-minded peers. Senior ladies may get together once a week to quilt or crochet. Senior gentlemen may get a block of wood and whittle away, or work on leather crafts.

In a facility or home for seniors, art therapists and volunteers may facilitate crafting-related activities a couple of times a week.

Crafting-related activities are excellent opportunities for seniors to get together and form a close bond, while learning something new.

And when at home, crafting can be good for the entire family. For instance, creating a scrapbook with photos of family trips and vacations can get everyone's creative juices flowing.

Does the senior home or facility need a little cheering up? A wreath can instantly brighten up the ambience for a Christmas party.

There's no need to worry about spending on new decorations. Seniors can make a simple Christmas wreath by using everyday items like cardboard, glue, and green and red construction paper cut into stars.

If they live at home, seniors may wish for a magazine holder to organize all the magazines to which they subscribe. Or, they may need a sewing box if they do needlework.

By using scrapbook paper, a large cereal box can be upcycled into a magazine holder. By using techniques in decoupage, an empty shoebox can be turned into an attractive sewing box.