Lovely senior life

[For Seniors] Simple Handicrafts Recommended for Finger Exercise

Social worker / Care workermoko
My name is Moko, a mother of three who admired my mother and worked in the care industry as a care worker and as a medical social worker (MSW) in a hospital. I will be drawing on my previous experience to write mainly about caregiving. Thank you in advance.
Certified Care Worker / Former Day Service StaffAbe Eri
I worked at a day service for seven years and obtained my Certified Care Worker qualification in 2019. I have provided meal assistance and bathing assistance, as well as led recreational activities that involve physical movement and cognitive stimulation. I enjoy drawing and crafting. My motto is: “With a smile, anything is possible!” and I try to live joyfully every day. I’m also doting on my beloved Chihuahua.

Are there any seniors who are worried about losing dexterity in their hands?

Handicrafts that you can enjoy while doing them are attracting attention as a wonderful hobby that keeps your fingers moving.

“Looks difficult…” “I’m clumsy with my hands…” You don’t need to worry about that at all.

In recent years, easy-to-use materials like fabric adhesives and felt have become widely available.

Even without needles or thread, you can create lovely pieces just by cutting and gluing.

Why not enjoy exercising your fingers while making one-of-a-kind handmade creations?

This time, we’ll share plenty of easy craft ideas that even older adults can start with confidence.

And of course, we’ve also prepared more elaborate projects for those who are skilled at crafts!

[For Seniors] Recommended Simple Crafts for Finger Dexterity (111–120)

Juggling with socks

[No needle or thread needed] Easy! Let’s make beanbags with socks! [How to make beanbags #1]

Juggling with socks

Many older adults may practice juggling beanbags as a way to exercise their fingers.

Let’s make a beanbag using a sock! Ankle socks are recommended.

First, turn the sock inside out and put the filling inside.

You can use anything for the filling, such as adzuki beans, soybeans, or coffee beans.

Once filled, gather the contents toward the toe and secure them with a rubber band.

Then flip the remaining part of the sock back over and fold it over the side with the filling to form a round beanbag.

You can exercise your fingers both while making it and while playing with it!

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[For Seniors] Recommended Simple Handicrafts That Exercise the Fingers (121–130)

Coasters made from felt scraps

How to Make Simple, Cute Coasters! Using Felt Scraps | DIY Easy Felt Coaster

Coasters made from felt scraps

Coasters made from felt scraps are recommended as a craft activity for seniors.

Simply cut four colors of felt you like and stick them onto a template—it’s easy to do.

The colors you choose will create a coaster that suits your taste, making it a one-of-a-kind, special item.

It’s great for personal use and also makes a lovely gift for someone important.

Because it involves fine handwork, it’s ideal for rehabilitation for seniors.

In addition, discussing how to make them during the process encourages interaction among seniors, making this a highly recommended group craft activity.

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Suede-like 3D mask

Easy and highly recommended! I tried making DAISO’s DIY kit “Suede-Style 3D Mask,” and it turned out great!

Suede-like 3D mask

There are many occasions to wear a mask, such as preventing infections or when you have a cough.

So why not try making your own mask using a mask kit? While there are gauze-style mask kits, here we’ll introduce a chic suede-style mask kit.

The kit includes suede fabric, elastic, and a pattern.

Besides the included suede fabric, you can also use suede in other colors.

You can make two types of masks.

For one, trace the pattern onto the fabric and cut it out with scissors.

Sew the fabric with a sewing machine to finish.

For the other, attach elastic to the ear sections of the mask to make it.

A mask you make yourself is likely to bring a happy feeling when worn, especially for older adults.

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Heart Pom Pom

[100-Yen Shop DIY] How to Make a Heart Pom-Pom ♡

Heart Pom Pom

This is a heart-shaped pom-pom made by weaving yarn onto a fork.

It’s also a fun twist that everyday tableware can become a knitting tool.

Thread the yarn through the middle and one groove of the fork, wrap the yarn around the whole fork, then use the yarn threaded through the center to tie everything together and remove the fork.

Cut open the looped parts and trim to finish the pom-pom.

Combine three pom-poms to create a heart shape.

It’s important to use pom-poms of the same size, so pay close attention to the number of wraps and how widely the yarn spreads.

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spring frame pouch

Seria Embroidery Kit Arrangement / How to Make a Spring-Frame Pouch / How to Make / How to Embroider

spring frame pouch

Introducing a kit for a spring-clasp pouch that snaps open wide.

Instead of a drawstring, you attach a metal spring frame to the opening of the pouch or a small bag.

Because it closes securely, it could be handy for storing snacks, medicine, stamps, and the like.

This is an embroidery kit specifically for spring-clasp pouches: embroider the fabric, sew it into a pouch shape, and finally attach the spring frame to finish.

It’s sold as a 100-yen shop kit, but it will also turn out beautifully if you swap the embroidery fabric for one you prefer.

It’s a convenient pouch that seniors can use to keep small essentials close at hand.

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Patchwork

How to Make Kimekomi Patchwork - Sakura Horikiri

Patchwork

Patchwork is the art of creating works by piecing together various fabrics.

The range of projects is broad, from small accessories to large items like bed covers.

Among older adults, some may feel, “I can make lovely pieces, but I’m not good at sewing.” For them, we’d like to introduce a kit that lets you create patchwork-style works without sewing.

Simply place fabrics onto a board that has a printed guide and an adhesive surface.

The fabrics are pre-cut to match the outlines of the guide.

Add some padding in the appropriate areas to create a three-dimensional effect.

With a finish that looks like real patchwork, it’s sure to satisfy older adults as well.

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Japanese-style rhombus pen holder

Kimie Gangi: Japanese-Style Diamond-Shaped Pen Holder Made from a Milk Carton – NEW Detailed Tutorial Version #HandmadeGift #RecycledCraft #MilkCartonCraft #DIY #RespectForTheAgedDay #DiamondPenHolder

Japanese-style rhombus pen holder

This pen holder has a mysterious shape that makes you wonder, “How do you make it? Isn’t it difficult?” But you can make it with just one milk carton and some origami paper—and by using your favorite origami or chiyogami, you can enjoy different looks.

For the spout section of the milk carton, cut slits at the four corners, mark a point 10 cm from there, and cut off the bottom portion.

The part with the slits will become the base, so cut off the spout area, then draw diagonal lines across the main body to form an X.

Score along the lines with scissors or a hard tool like a ballpoint pen to make folding easier.

Cover the surface with origami from the top, and for the indented diamond sections, apply a different piece of origami to finish.

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