From handmade paintings with holiday designs to colorful fall foliage preserved in wax paper, autumn crafts are the perfect way to keep Great Care seniors active.
There are a variety of arts-related ways aging adults can join in activities promoting creativity, brain exercise and hand-eye coordination, according to Dr. Barbara Bagan, a professor of expressive arts therapy at Ottawa University and caregiving author.
“Creative art pursuits provide older adults with multiple benefits, not the least of which is enhanced cognitive function,” says Dr. Bagan, in her “Today’s Geriatric Medicine” article.
Dr. Bagan, founder of Art & Aging (artandaging.com), says throughout history, art has provided benefits for both the creator and viewer.
“Current studies in the fields of art therapy, music therapy, and other creative modalities confirm art affects individuals in positive ways by inducing both psychological and physiological healing, says the author of “Expressive Arts, Aging, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s,” a manual for artists, art educators, healthcare professionals, and others who work with older adults.
“We know that, in general, exercising our creative selves enhances quality of life and nurtures overall well-being,” Dr. Barnard says. “We all are creative — not just a select few.”
Great Care suggets trying these ideas for being artsy for seniors and caregivers:
This holiday table and front porch decoration idea from midwestliving.com helps seniors display their favorite fall foliage colors using found objects. Using real fall leaves, apply to pumpkins painted white or gold to set a sophisticated scene or left au natural using simple decoupage (gluing flat objects or pictures to a surface).
1. For this easy fall craft, first set several leaves between paper towels or wax paper and flatten them under a book for at least five days.
2. Then brush decoupage glue on a white pumpkin.
3. Arrange the leaves on the pumpkin’s surface.
4. Cut small slits along the edges of the leaves as you go, so they’ll fit the pumpkin’s contours.
5. To finish, coat the decorated surface in decoupage glue.
Have a fall painting party at home and invite the grandkids over to join in the autumn-themed creative fun.
1. Buy small craft acrylic paint bottles in red, orange, yellow and brown (and add metallics for fun!) and squirt separate dollops on paper plates.
2. On white paper or a canvas, draw or paint the trunk of a tree in brown paint or colored pencil. Lightly draw a large circle above it in pencil to make the round shape of a tree with leaves as a guide.
3. Use Q-Tips to dip in different colors of paints and make random dots for leaves.
4. Allow to dry and place in a frame from the dollar store painted black, gold or fall colors or hang canvas.
The professionals at Great Care are available to talk with you and your family about all of your home care needs, including respite care. Great Care is a non medical in-home care agency providing quality and affordable elder care in Fishers, IN and the surrounding areas. Call (888) 240-9101 for more information.
Follow Us!