The picture used to be locked in to an antiquated version of crafts for the elderly: they were relegated to cutting out construction paper Christmas tree chains and Valentines, making doilies, and fussing with clay or paints. Maybe crafts for the elderly were thought of as siblings to crafts for the mentally challenged, or maybe crafts for the elderly meant—since the elderly were completing the circle of life and returning to regressed stages—that only that which children were allowed to handle was acceptable for the patients in an elder care facility.
Guess what? Times have changed along with people, and crafts for the elderly are much more “advanced”…they are, too, as varied in medium and message and skill level as the individuals are. Yes, our elders are still offered the options of pipe cleaners and papier-mâché, but they are also invited to continue what they did when they were younger. Some elders still work as jewelers, making jewelry, for instance, while others still quilt, knit, and crochet. Many enjoy finely detailed needlepoint. Others sew. Elders make clocks, build birdhouses, craft workshop items such as dolls and toys.
And why can’t crafts for the elderly also include arts for the elderly? My mother paints in oils and watercolors; my friend who is retired restores antiques. Other elders I have worked with in memoir-writing workshops have continued to write and make their own books (the hand sewn kind) but have also published their own memoirs with small presses. In addition, some have made planters and plant terrariums, while others have done decoupage and wood-burning projects that have yielded family trees, poems, and images as gifts and honors for their loved ones.
Other possibilities as crafts for the elderly include (but are not limited to) hand-made greeting cards, pictures, and posters; arts and crafts kits; ceramics; weaving; cooking and non-cooking activities; gardening; gift ideas and baskets (from dream catchers to edible bouquets); miniature models and kits (airplanes, cars, trucks); etchings (in brass or on tiles); scrapbooking; science crafts; sand painting; paper dolls; botanical and other 3-d sculpting.
Granted, those with debilitating conditions or mental deterioration will not be able to nor have interest in gold-flaking the ceiling. But many of our so-called elders are still as active and engaged as they ever were, so they need not be limited to our idea of crafts hour in the rec room. The idea is that the elderly should continue to do what they did, what they love to do, and whatever they can do to keep their minds and souls healthy and happy. If that means rejecting a popsicle stick for a paintbrush, all the better!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Way Of Spending Time With Crafts And Hobbies
For me, crafts and hobbies are more than just a way of spending time – they are a way of life. Everyone believes that you need to have a hobby, but in my family the philosophy has always been a little bit more specific. In my family, it was seen as important to find something to do with your hands. You see, we are all very intellectual folks. We loved to read, to write, to study math, and to learn about history. Sometimes, however, we really needed to cut loose and do something that involved more physical labor than thought. Finding hobbies and crafts to do was a way of keeping in balance, not allowing the mental to completely replace the physical.
My parents had many fantastic craft ideas growing up, and we would all get a chance to try all of them. Sometimes, we would even get to go to craft shows to see what other people were doing. Although we never started our own craft business, we would sometimes go to art fairs and sell some of the things that we no longer needed. It was a strange hodgepodge of stuff. You see, we made so many things with our various crafts and hobbies that we would run out of room if we did not give some of them away or sell them.
Some people like to take just one craft or hobby and perfect it. Perhaps they make candles, or perhaps they make bookshelves. Perhaps they like to paint, or perhaps they like to sculpt. Whatever it is, they dedicate all of their spare time to it and perfect their craft. I have always thought that this is a mistake. There are too many great crafts and hobbies to have to choose just one. Whether you are working with crafts for kids or hobbies for adults, the key is variety.
The more crafts and hobbies you get to try out, after all, the more different skills you get to develop. If you can develop some painting skills, carpentry skills, electrical wiring skills, and sculpting skills, you will end up very well rounded indeed. crafts and hobbies activate parts of your brain that you don't normally use. Throw in the mastery of a musical instrument or two, and you are all set to go. The more things you try, the more passion you will feel for all of them. Whenever I meet someone who says that there are not enough hours in the day for crafts and hobbies, I tell them that they have to seriously rethink their priorities!
My parents had many fantastic craft ideas growing up, and we would all get a chance to try all of them. Sometimes, we would even get to go to craft shows to see what other people were doing. Although we never started our own craft business, we would sometimes go to art fairs and sell some of the things that we no longer needed. It was a strange hodgepodge of stuff. You see, we made so many things with our various crafts and hobbies that we would run out of room if we did not give some of them away or sell them.
Some people like to take just one craft or hobby and perfect it. Perhaps they make candles, or perhaps they make bookshelves. Perhaps they like to paint, or perhaps they like to sculpt. Whatever it is, they dedicate all of their spare time to it and perfect their craft. I have always thought that this is a mistake. There are too many great crafts and hobbies to have to choose just one. Whether you are working with crafts for kids or hobbies for adults, the key is variety.
The more crafts and hobbies you get to try out, after all, the more different skills you get to develop. If you can develop some painting skills, carpentry skills, electrical wiring skills, and sculpting skills, you will end up very well rounded indeed. crafts and hobbies activate parts of your brain that you don't normally use. Throw in the mastery of a musical instrument or two, and you are all set to go. The more things you try, the more passion you will feel for all of them. Whenever I meet someone who says that there are not enough hours in the day for crafts and hobbies, I tell them that they have to seriously rethink their priorities!
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