Posts Tagged ‘craft ideas for assisted living’

Looking for things to do with your parents in assisted living? Finding activities to do together can be challenging if their mobility has been on the decline, but crafting is something almost everyone can do, which is why we’ve put together this list of crafty ideas you can implement with your loved ones in assisted living. As a bonus, kids love to do crafts, too, making this a great opportunity for your kids to bond with their grandparents.

Scrapbooking

Scrapbooks are one of the best crafts you can make with loved ones in assisted living. Just about everyone who has been lucky enough to live to a ripe old age has collected a significant number of photos, and scrapbooks are a great way to go through those photos and compile them into a colorful book that can be treasured forever. Visual cues (like photos) are also great at stimulating memories for those suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s, making it a particularly great exercise to do with aging parents. Ask them about the stories behind the photos and you’ll end up learning how much you never knew about your own parents.

Painting

Painting is another great way to get your loved ones to strengthen those fine motor skills while expressing themselves in a way that’s fun and colorful. You can go the traditional route of painting paper or canvas, or you can paint anything from rocks to clay pots. Painted rocks make great garden markers and painted clay pots can hold anything from plants to valuable items. Either way, it’s something they can keep that will always remind them of the time they spent crafting with you.

Seashell Fish

Get some seashells, some googly eyes, and some glue and you and your loved ones are ready to make a whole school of fish. You can arrange them within a frame to make a decorative arrangement, or keep them separate from each other so each of you can take one or two fish home with you as a memento of the experience.

Bath Salts

Bath salts are remarkably easy to make. You just mix some Epsom salts together with baking soda and a few drops of the essential oil of your choice. You can add coloring if you want, just as long as you make sure whatever coloring you use is safe for bath and body products. Put it all in a mason jar, and then you can keep the crafting going by decorating the mason jar. This way, everyone will have something to take home with them that will ensure they enjoy their next bath to the fullest.

Button Doll

Have a lot of loose buttons lying around? You can assemble them together into a button doll using just some wire, a few beads, some wire cutters, and a pair of pliers. For extra points, you can even paint a face onto your doll if you’re confident you have the dexterity and talent to accomplish that much detail.

At Stillwater Senior Living, we offer a variety of social and recreational activities residents can do with their families and with each other. Our goal is to keep them as active as possible – both mentally and physically – and crafts are just one way we accomplish that. Reach out now if you’re curious about the other ways we keep our residents happy and healthy.

Here at Stillwater Senior Living, we treat our residents like family. Our apartments include studio, one bedroom, and two bedroom suites, and we are pet friendly. They are designed with security features, maximum accessibility, and include walk-out patois with a full range of amenities for the entire family.

CONTACT US today for more information and a tour of our beautiful state-of-the-art community.