There are many activities and projects older adults can do to unplug and relax the mind. Listening to music, meditating, practicing yoga, reading a book, or taking a nice stroll outside are some activities you can do. However, if you want something that’s relaxing but still mentally stimulating, doing arts and crafts also has benefits.
Searching for an assisted living community with arts and crafts services in Florida? Reach out to Summer’s Landing today by calling 850.265.9829 or contacting our team online.
What Are Some Popular Arts and Crafts in Assisted Living?
There are dozens of ways to have fun while keeping your hands occupied and letting your creativity flourish, regardless of what your interests are or your level of skill. For example, you can make the following objects with common household items, some creative effort, and a little bit of elbow grease:
- Clay jewelry charms: You can create one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces by shaping unique charms out of polymer clay.
- Greeting cards: Homemade cards are a great way to let your loved ones know you’re thinking about them. You can use fabric, paper, ribbons, stickers, and many other materials to make fun and creative cards for any occasion, such as Christmas or Easter.
- Pressed flowers: Arrange some flowers creatively between sheets of wax paper. Place a heavy book on top to weigh the flowers down and then let it sit overnight. Once the flowers are flat, you can laminate them or use them to decorate bookmarks, coasters, and more.
- Scrap-fabric magnets: Do you have old bits of fabric left over from sewing projects? You can add some felt and use glue to put shapes together that you can then attach to magnets.
- Suncatchers: These projects can hang in your window. You can make a lightweight suncatcher out of coloring sheets and mason jar lids or a heavier one decorated with glass stones.
What Are the Benefits of Arts and Crafts for Adults?
1. Allows Seniors to Have Fun
Older adults living alone may think that they can only have fun during group activities, such as social events with their peers or holidays with their families. However, having fun by oneself is definitely possible. Doing any form of art activity, whether it be painting or making novelty items, is beneficial to overall health, and it’s fun to do.
2. Boosts Self-Esteem
Creating art instills pride. The knowledge that you can make, innovate, think creatively, and make something beautiful can help you feel a sense of accomplishment and add some excitement to your life. Engaging in arts and crafts can help boost morale and confidence, which are beneficial emotions when dealing with challenges and other stressors.
3. Encourages Communication
Art and crafts are a means of communication. Studies show that engaging in arts and crafts provides multiple positive effects on people dealing with health concerns—and communication could have something to do with it. Because art is an expression, it’s a form of communication too even though it’s mostly visual. Art can help residents express themselves or fill an occupational void, therefore distracting them from thoughts of ill health and instead improving flow, positive identity, and spontaneity.
4. Enhances Fine Motor Skills and Helps to Reduce Pain
Did you know that doing arts and crafts can help reduce pain in conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis? This is due to the relaxed mind being able to promote better blood flow, particularly in the hands, fingers, and wrists. And when you’re deep into an arts and crafts activity, you’re often very relaxed.
Mind-body activities like arts and crafts can also aid in promoting fine motor skills and strengthening the hands. This is particularly beneficial for residents dealing with neurological disorders or anyone experiencing difficulty carrying out tasks that require precise movements.
5. Helps to Cope with Anxiety, Depression, and Stress
One of the best benefits of arts and crafts for adults is that it’s good for mental health. Activities like drawing or journaling can not only feel rewarding, but they can also help lower stress levels. Forms of artistic expression are relaxing because they help you soothe a mind that may be full of thoughts needing to be shared. It doesn’t matter what type of art activity you do as long as you are allowing the creative, rather than the logical, side of you to take the lead.
When Should You Consider Assisted Living?
There will come a point in time when an older adult can no longer live on their own. Whether the older adult is you or a loved one, considering residence at an assisted living community is likely to happen in that situation.
While family members may want an older adult to stay with them in their home, there may be emotional or financial barriers to doing so. Family members may also not have the time, space, or energy to accommodate the day-to-day needs of an older adult properly. Or, the older adult may not want to move in with younger family members and may want to keep their independence intact.
Overall, if the older adult can complete activities of daily living (ADLs)—bathing, being able to control bowels, dressing, feeding, going to the bathroom, and getting in and out of bed—by themselves, they can live independently. But if they need help doing some of those ADLs, they may fare better as residents of an assisted living community.
Find Out More About Summer’s Landing’s Arts and Crafts Services
If you’re looking for an assisted living community with arts and crafts services in Florida, contact Summer’s Landing today. Reach out to our team online or call 850.265.9829.
