Nowadays, finding easy and fun crafts for seniors with arthritis is not that difficult. Wherever you look today; you see many crafts. A craft, as the name suggests; is something that is done by hand and is made into a shape by hand. A craft is usually made with wood; cardboard; yarn, etc. You can make crafts suitable for the elderly with matchsticks and straw fibers. When coordination between the mind; hand and eye is created to make a craft; a person’s accuracy increases; creativity and thinking grows.
Usually, when starting to make crafts, seniors may encounter problems and conclude that making crafts is not their job and they cannot handle it. But this idea is very wrong. It is necessary for children to give their elderly parents information about making crafts so that they can make crafts. Seniors should try to come up with new ideas for this. This method will activate their minds. If seniors are curious, they can try making crafts and include them in their daily routine. In this article from Human Health Mag, we will introduce some crafts suitable for seniors with arthritis.
Types of Crafts for Seniors
In general, doing easy and fun crafts for seniors with arthritis is very important in many ways. Different types of crafts for seniors with arthritis, such as painting, can allow seniors to share their creativity with others. These activities give them the opportunity to express their feelings through colors and images.
Also, other crafts, such as working with clay and bricks, can give seniors a sense of completing a creative project. They can give their artwork as special gifts to others or use them. Other activities, such as photography, are also an opportunity to record beautiful and special moments in life. Seniors can capture their memories by taking photos and share them with others. They can make crafts with the photos they take and enjoy it.
Some Easy and Fun Crafts for Seniors With Arthritis
In general, creative activities such as easy and fun crafts for seniors with arthritis play a very important role in improving the quality of life of the elderly. Since such activities increase the variety of life, they can help improve their physical, mental, and emotional health. Here are some of the best crafts for the elderly.
1- Making a Craft with Sponge and Cotton
One of the suitable crafts for the elderly is making different shapes with sponge and cotton. To make this craft, you need a five-centimeter cloud; cotton; scissors; thread; needle and fabric. Seniors who have had a hand in sewing in their youth; can make this craft more easily than other people. Before doing anything, you need to bring the desired pattern onto cardboard or paper and cut it out with scissors. Then place the cut pattern on the fabric and cut around it with scissors and sew both sides with thread and needle to create the original shape. In this way, you can prepare any shape and design you like.
2- Making a Craft With Matches
Some people think that expensive tools and equipment are needed to make a work. However, creativity in making a craft is more effective than anything else. Making a craft with matches is another suitable craft for the elderly. To make this craft, you need a few packs of matches, drop glue, and a pattern. Making this craft requires great care. The elderly should place the prepared pattern in front of them and proceed in order of the pattern. Making a craft with matches is one of the activities for the elderly with limited mobility and causes excitement, mental activity, cheerfulness, vitality, and mobility in the elderly.
3- Knitting
There are many seniors who have been very interested in knitting since they were young. Making crafts with knitting needles and yarn is another easy and fun crafts for seniors with arthritis. Usually, grandmothers have knitting supplies in their tools and do not need to buy a knitting needle or hook. Some grandmothers choose dark-colored yarn for this. Sometimes seniors use bright colors such as pink or yellow and give it to others as a gift after finishing the work. Using colorful yarn and knitting needles and hooks causes hands to move and strengthens the memory and mental activity of seniors. This helps seniors stay away from amnesia and remain active despite arthritis.n
4- Making a Craft With Discarded Items
Normally, every home has items that are not needed and you throw them all away. Empty mineral water bottles are one of those items. Seniors can make beautiful crafts from them. Preparing this craft is very convenient and easy. The tools needed to make this craft are empty mineral water bottles, scissors, scissors, glue, ribbon, gems and beads for decoration.
Seniors can use this tool for a box of threads and needles, small items that they want to keep out of the reach of their grandchildren. Since the mineral water bottle is a little long, cut the middle part of it to shorten the length of the bottle. Using glue, cut and stick the ribbons on both sides of the bottle. You can use anything you like to decorate around or on the bottle. Apart from empty mineral water bottles, you can also use other plastic bottles and change the size of the box to your taste.
5- Make a Bookmark Craft
Making your own bookmarks can be a creative way to create a useful tool. Once completed, you can use them while studying or give them as a meaningful gift to someone. It can also be an opportunity to socialize while making these useful tools with others. Making bookmarks can be categorized as easy and fun crafts for seniors with arthritis, which are very beneficial for their mental health, cognitive function, and mood. To make this craft, you will need flowers, heavy books, thin glue paper, and thick cardboard. To make the craft, place the flowers between thin paper and place them inside the book. Place a few more books on top to make it heavier. Wait for the flowers to dry completely (a few days to a few weeks). Gently glue the dried flowers to the cardboard to make a bookmark.
To make the bookmark, you will also need thread, scissors, various beads, a pendant, and a book (for measuring). Measure the thread to a length that will extend beyond both sides of the book. Tie a pendant to one end of the thread. Thread the beads until they reach the base of the pendant. Tie a knot near the beads. Tie a knot about a quarter of the way up the thread, leaving enough space for a few beads. Add any desired beads and tie them at the bottom, cutting off the excess thread above the knots.
6- Rock Crafts
Rock crafts can be a creative way to express yourself. These simple crafts can be used as paperweights, decor, or even garden stickers. Painting and decorating flat river rocks can have the same benefits as painting on canvas. It can create a sense of accomplishment, help with socializing, and improve your thinking skills and mental health.
To make this type of craft, you can use river rocks, paint, brushes of different sizes, and water to wash the brush. First, you need to wash the rocks to remove any dust and dirt, and then decorate them with paints however you like.
7- Make a Picture Frame
Making a personalized picture frame is one of the easy and fun crafts for seniors with arthritis and can be another way to display memories. Making frames for family photos or special moments in life can help recall memories. Decorating or making frames can also be a social activity that helps with fine motor function and cognitive skills. To make this craft, you will need a simple ready-made picture frame, glue, stickers, decorative stones or small items for decoration, paint and markers, popsicle sticks, and foam board or wood (to make your own frame).
You can use a ready-made frame to make this craft or make your own frame from foam board, popsicle sticks, or wood and glue. Paint the frame if you wish and attach decorative items to the frame. After the paint and glue dry, place the desired photo in the frame and display it.
Benefits of Crafting for Seniors with Arthritis
Making easy and fun crafts for seniors with arthritis has many other benefits, the most important of which are:
- Increases motor skills and coordination: When making crafts, seniors focus on a single task, such as knitting, sculpting, or a creative project. As they age, seniors become less physically active. This causes their muscles to atrophy. Engaging in these light physical activities helps improve coordination and increase blood flow. This can increase hand, wrist, and finger strength.
- Improves cognitive function and stimulation: Engaging in crafting allows seniors to think creatively and enhance cognitive function. The process of learning new things, such as a new artistic skill, helps stimulate healthy brain activity and keeps our minds sharp. Some studies even suggest that making crafts may slow the progression of memory diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. For seniors living with memory loss, the process of creating art therapy for seniors can be a way to connect and express themselves.
- Improve mood and mental health: Making crafts and making art has been shown to reduce feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress in people of all ages. In one study, seniors who participated in art activities reported reduced levels of loneliness and depression and improved mood. Participants found that the calming act of drawing a brush or pencil on paper helped them focus on positive emotions. Making crafts can be a powerful tool to help seniors cope with common issues like isolation, loneliness, and stress.
- Reduce pain: Many seniors are affected by arthritis, high blood pressure, and other pain. Making crafts is naturally relaxing. Seniors use their arms and fingers to make crafts, and this is a light but consistent physical activity that can help improve agility and blood flow. They benefit from increased coordination of body movements by using small, purposeful movements and are more likely to ignore pain because they are focused on making a tool.
Concluding Remarks
In this article, we talked about easy and fun crafts for seniors with arthritis and how to make them. Making these crafts, as we mentioned, strengthens the mind of seniors and also provides them with entertainment and relieves them from the unpleasant feeling of not being useful.
Crafts can also have many benefits for seniors. Participating in these activities can help with thinking ability, fine motor function, mental health, and a sense of autonomy. Taking art classes or doing crafts with friends and family can strengthen a sense of socialization, which leads to a decrease in feelings of loneliness.
You can share your questions and opinions about this topic with us in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Crafting Effective in Treating Alzheimer’s?
There is no definitive cure for Alzheimer’s and dementia yet, but with art therapy and crafting, we can delay the progression of this disease in the elderly. One of the problems that these patients struggle with is the presence of stress and anxiety. Crafting helps reduce this stress and anxiety. Also, it stimulates the brain and may even make them remember their past memories.
What Crafts Are Good for Seniors?
Crafts like sculpting, knitting, and jewelry making can be good for seniors. Each of these arts helps seniors express their feelings and develop a variety of skills.