[For Seniors] Let’s Start a Fun Craft Activity
In elderly care facilities and day service centers, craft-based recreation is essential.
Because it involves fine motor movements, it helps with rehabilitation and stimulates the brain.
In this article, we’ve gathered easy and enjoyable craft ideas that older adults can make with minimal effort.
Even those who have never done crafts and lack confidence will find it easy to get started.
Most materials are things you already have at home or can quickly pick up at a dollar store.
If you’re interested in crafts, give them a try!
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[For Seniors] Let’s Start Fun Craft Activities (71–80)
Washi paper lampshade
Introducing a washi paper lampshade with a gentle glow.
Prepare four chopsticks, ten half-length chopsticks, a hot glue gun, and a pendant light to hang inside, then let’s get started.
When building the frame with the glue gun, the key is to hold the pieces firmly in place at the moment you bond them so they stay stable.
When applying the washi paper on the outside, attach it one panel at a time, smoothing it out as you go while creating light creases.
Once you place the pendant light inside, it’s complete.
Try making this cute washi paper lampshade while imagining where you’ll use it.
accessory case
Disposable chopsticks transform into a lovely little organizer.
The method is simple and you’ll have fun making it.
Prepare 12 sets of disposable chopsticks, colored construction paper, and glue.
Cut the chopsticks in half.
Using glue, attach the chopsticks to a square piece of construction paper.
Apply glue where the chopsticks overlap.
As you stack them up, be careful to keep them straight so they don’t shift out of place.
You can also paint the chopsticks if you like for a cute touch.
Give it a try!
bow
Here’s how to make a large bow that boosts concentration and gives a strong sense of accomplishment.
Prepare chopsticks, rubber bands, baking soda powder, adhesive, a leather sheet, scissors, and a hole punch, and let’s get started.
When building the bow’s base with chopsticks, sprinkle baking soda powder over the glued areas to increase strength and help it harden faster.
The key is to assemble the base while carefully checking the angles.
Connect the rubber bands to create the part that hooks onto the bow.
When using it, make sure no one is around and try it out safely.
[For Seniors] Let’s Start Fun Craft Activities (81–90)
string instrument
We’d like to introduce a string instrument you can make from disposable chopsticks that produces tones like a guitar or koto when played.
First, cut the chopsticks to about half their length.
Glue the cut chopsticks together to form a cylinder.
As you do, leave gaps for the strings and glue them in place together.
Once the adhesive has dried, try plucking the strings with a chopstick to make sound.
This chopstick-made instrument might pleasantly surprise older adults as well.
If you can tune it, you can even play nursery rhymes and more, so there’s plenty of fun beyond just making it.
Origami Grape Wreath
We’d like to introduce a grape wreath made with origami.
Many older adults enjoy origami, don’t they? One of its charms is that you can make it while seated, so it’s easy to get started.
Since it uses your fingertips a lot, it’s said to stimulate the brain and help prevent dementia.
A fruit-themed project like grapes also makes it easier for seniors to feel the season.
Make the wreath base out of origami as well, then attach the folded grapes.
Seeing something you made displayed on a facility wall or in your own room can be a real joy.
Please use this as inspiration and create a lovely piece!
Grapes made with torn newspaper (collage)
Let’s make a grape collage using torn paper (chigiri-e).
Chigiri-e uses your fingertips a lot, so it can be effective for fine motor training.
It also helps stimulate the brain.
Through detailed work, it is said to improve concentration as well.
Cut out photos or illustrations from newspapers that match your grape design.
To prepare the parts you’ll tear, trace the shapes on the newspaper with a brush moistened with water.
This makes it easier to tear along the shape you want to use.
Then, create the grapes on a backing sheet using the torn newspaper pieces to complete your work.
It’s also great for making calendars.
3D grapes
Let’s make one of autumn’s flavors—grapes—out of origami.
Use a compass or similar tool to cut out round shapes from origami paper.
After making several circles, apply glue and layer them.
The key is to fold each piece of origami paper in half, then attach each half to a different circular piece, one by one.
This creates a spherical shape out of origami.
Connect the spheres together, and they will look like a bunch of grapes.
Using origami paper with dots or patterns can add a cute accent.
Older adults may also enjoy feeling the season of autumn through this grape craft.