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Senior citizens can try out these artistic crafts and keep active! Creative activities and art projects can have a positive impact and be a therapy that helps seniors maintain their mental health and socialize with their community.
Here are some engaging activities that seniors can do within the comfort of their own homes. Read on!
Also Check: Mother’s Day Activities for Seniors
Table of Contents
20 Crafts for Senior Citizens in Nursing Homes
1. Clay Crafts
Using clay as art therapy and as a craft material provides many benefits for seniors like the one in this video.
READ MORE: Exciting Summer Crafts for Seniors
2. Scrapbooking
Scrapbooking is another fun and affordable activity that seniors can take part in. It’s a beautiful way for them to bring back fond memories and create their own memoirs.
This video can give you an idea of how to create a scrapbook.
3. Woven Paper Baskets
Use just about any kind of hard, colorful paper to create paper baskets like the one in this video.
4. Creating Decors for the Holidays
The holiday season is the perfect time for winter craft ideas like this paper holiday wreath that seniors can make right in time for Christmas and raise their holiday spirit!
5. Puzzle Painting
A puzzle and a painting in one! Creating this can be fun indoor activities for seniors.
6. Bean Birds
Beans and glue on a frame to create lovely decoration.
7. Glass Gem Suncatchers
Colored glass beads and glue are all you need to make these beautiful gift items that are so easy to make.
8. Popsicle Stick Projects
Popsicle sticks are a great way to create different projects. Here are some nifty projects seniors might want to work on. See more on the video.
9. Egg Carton Flowers
Turn those egg cartons into lovely, colorful flowers and add a rustic touch to your home. Watch the video to learn more.
10. Balloon Stamping
With a few balloons and some poster paint, this lovely activity is one fun way to keep seniors engaged, especially for seniors who have dementia.
11. Circular Plate Weaving
A fun way to create trinket bowls or coasters using a paper plate and yarn. Complete instructions on this activity for seniors are here on this video.
12. Wooden Necklace
Seniors will love to create a necklace made from big wooden beads.
13. Clothespin Trivet
Who knew that the use of clothespins goes beyond laundry? They can use them to make a trivet or even lovely home decor.
14. Loom Knitting
Loom knitting is less complicated than regular knitting and can easily be handled by any senior. You can purchase loom knitting kits either in crafts stores, dollar stores or even online.
Learn more about loom knitting by watching this video.
15. Felt Paper Gnomes
Adorable decors like these can help perk up the atmosphere in any home.
16. Heart Wind Chimes
Christmas isn’t the only time of the year for decors, especially when Valentine’s comes right after. This wind chime is a beautiful project for Valentine’s month activity.
17. Crochet
Doing crochet projects has been proven to stave off cognitive impairment [1] like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Encourage seniors to do some simple patterns!
Make sure to also check our list of easy crafts for seniors with dementia.
18. Knitting
Pick up needles once again and get started with a simple dishcloth pattern.
19. Punch Embroidery
Unlike traditional embroidery, punch embroidery is a project for seniors that is much simpler. Senior citizens can create wonderful pieces using this very simple technique.
20. Latch Hook Projects
Latch hook projects are easy and fun to make and everyone will love them.
Also Read: Benefits Of Crafts For Seniors
FAQs
How do you entertain an elderly resident?
There are many ways to entertain an elderly resident. Have them engaged in activity programs like dancing, afternoon teas or movie nights. Another way is having them engage in craft projects as well.
What crafts do old people like?
This depends on their interests. Some may have a favorite craft that they’ve had an interest in during their younger years, such as painting or needlecrafts. Others may want to try out newer activities.
Ask your senior what his or her interests are to know what craft to recommend.
Conclusion
Seniors in living facilities will benefit from crafts, as shown in this study [2] published in 2014.
It is important to know, though, what interests they have in order to entice them to do the craft you may have in mind.
By engaging them in fun crafts and artistic activities for seniors, not only do you encourage their sense of creativity to come up with beautiful artwork, but you also ensure improved cognitive function and a better quality of life as well.
What are your favorite crafts for senior citizens in nursing homes? Please share below!
References
- 1. Polino M. Crochet Therapy [Internet]. Available from: https://www.counseling.org/docs/default-source/aca-acc-creative-activities-clearinghouse/crochet-therapy.pdf?sfvrsn=6
- 2. Noice T, Noice H, Kramer AF. Participatory Arts for Older Adults: A Review of Benefits and Challenges. The Gerontologist [Internet]. 2013;54:741–53. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4229893/
I love so many of these ideas. Some of them I wish I had thought about for my Dad.
All of these are fantastic! I love the clay and scrapbooking ideas the most.
You have some awesome craft ideas here. I bet they’ll have fun making these.
These look like fun craft projects. The basket one is my favorite.
These are really great ways to keep their minds busy. It’s very important at their age!
These look like really great crafts that could help with keeping fine motor skills in tune!
These are so cute. I love the egg carton flowers most.
I would enjoy doing some of these myself. All great activities for exercising your mind and body.
So many interesting activities! I love those paper baskets!
I’ve made these paper baskets together with my parents and we had a lot of fun!
I’m loving all these great ideas. I know many seniors who love to do crafts. I always loved visiting nursing homes and doing crafts with them.
Thanks for this! My husband’s grandmother needs these ideas! I like the woven baskets or the egg carton flowers the most!
Such great ideas!!! I might save some of these for my Girl Scout troop too!
These are wonderful ideas. I am sure they will definitely enjoy doing these activities, especially knitting, and crocheting.