Serving as a family caregiver for an at-home senior oftentimes means performing duties like light housekeeping, cooking and personal hygiene so they can continue aging comfortably in place. But as their caregiver it’s also important to keep their hands busy and minds sharp through various activities. Crafts are a great way to spend some quality time together, and there are literally dozens of fun craft ideas for seniors to choose from. Here are 5 fun craft ideas for seniors that should bring a smile to both your faces.

5 Fun Craft Ideas for Seniors

1. Fabric Painting

Painting in general is fun because it allows you to explore more textures and colors than does drawing alone. If your senior’s hands are shaky, or neither one of you is good at freestyling, do a fabric painting project together. Mistakes are less noticeable than on other materials, and it’ll be fun making a mess together just like when you were kids. If it’s hard for your loved one to hold a paint brush because of arthritis, cut up some sponges and use those instead to create some interesting patterns on the fabric. Various cloth items you can paint include:

  • T-shirts
  • Reusable grocery bags
  • Pillowcases
  • Table linens
  • Dish towels

2. Mosaics

Another fun craft idea for seniors is making a mosaic. Simply cut up any type of colorful material, and then glue the resulting pieces onto some cardboard or construction paper while creating a picture, telling a story, or making a design. If your senior is having trouble with their motor skills or eyesight, working with either smaller or larger mosaic pieces should compensate for those limitations. If you two find that you’re good at making mosaics, try your hand at creating some mosaic candles or mosaic trays that you can share with others!

3. Polymer Clay

For elderly persons with poor hand dexterity, working and softening polymer clay is great for exercising fingers. From a creativity standpoint, polymer clay can be formed into many useful and decorative shapes like:

  • Bowls
  • Beads
  • Pins
  • Vases

Once they’re ready, you can harden the clay objects by baking them in the oven or using a hand-held hair dryer. Another way to use polymer clay is to roll it out with a rolling pin, and then cut it into fun shapes using a biscuit or cookie cutter. The resulting clay creations can then be decorated as pendants or hanging ornaments, and once hardened they’ll be ready to use.

4. Gift Baskets

Seniors love making gift baskets for others, so take yours to the dollar store to pick out some items to fill baskets for the grandkids, or maybe an elderly shut-in they know. You can easily find used baskets at yard sales or second-hand stores, and then add some ribbon and bows to dress it up. Here are some of the items that you can fill your gift baskets with:

  • For kids: Crayons, erasable markers, coloring books, flash cards, puzzles, small toys and stuffed animals, healthy snacks
  • For seniors: Scented candles, crossword puzzles, hand lotions, bath soaps, essential oils, nutritious snacks, hanging ornaments, inspirational books

After helping your senior get dressed take them to hand-deliver the gift baskets that you made together, and then watch their face light up!

5. Organize Photos

Most seniors have lots of old photographs sitting around their home that captured cherished moments from their past. What better way to discuss those memories than to sit down with your loved one and go through their pictures. It’s also a great way to exercise their mind while sharing some laughs together. Gather up some of the more important photos, and then start creatively organizing them using:

  • Picture frames
  • Photo albums
  • A scrapbook
  • As a collage

In-Home Caregivers with Fun Craft Ideas for Seniors

Finding the time to participate in crafts with a senior loved one can be hard, especially when you live far away. When you need a compassionate caregiver to step in, call the professionals at Cranberry Home Care. Our highly trained and carefully screened aides have the fun craft ideas for seniors your loved one needs to help keep them aging comfortably in place right where they want to be.

While in your senior’s home, our experienced caregivers can also perform tasks like light housekeeping, transportation, personal hygiene, meal preparation, medication reminders and companionship; all delivered in a flexibly tailored package to put your mind at ease. To schedule a FREE in-home care assessment now, or to learn more about the family trusted senior home care services that Cranberry Home Care offers in the Middleboro, MA, area, please visit: www.cranberryhomecare.com!