Easy Charitable Crafts for Seniors
As a younger person, your parent was probably active and rarely had time to get bored. But, now, as their life slows down, your parent may experience times of boredom. Unfortunately, boredom isn’t just an issue of having nothing to do, it can also affect your parent’s health and quality of life. Boredom can lead to depression. As a caregiver, you’re probably concerned about your parent continuing to engage in activities that keep them occupied and mentally engaged. One way that seniors can stay busy and bust boredom is by making items that can be donated to charities. Not only will making crafts keep them busy, when they are donated to worthy causes, they can also give seniors a sense of purpose. Below are some ideas for crafts that your parent can make for donation to charities.
Dog and Cat Toys.
Animal shelters and rescues are always in need of toys for the furry friends they care for. Seniors can make simple dog and cat toys using scraps of fleece. Strips of fleece can be braided together and knotted at the ends to make tug toys for dogs. For cats, cut fleece into small squares or other shapes and sew them together to form little pillow-like toys. Stuff them with batting and add a pinch of catnip.
Newborn Hats and Booties.
If your parent likes to knit or crochet, pick up a pattern for baby hats and booties to donate to hospitals. Babies in the nursery wear the adorable little hats to stay warm and they make a wonderful keepsake for parents to take home.
Adult Bibs.
Long-term care facilities and homes for adults with disabilities often need adult-sized bibs for their residents. Your parent may enjoy choosing fun fabrics for bibs that are quick and easy to sew together. You can find free patterns for adult bibs online or purchase a pattern at a craft store.
Walker Caddies.
Long-term care facilities enjoy having attractive and functional walker caddies to give to their residents. Walker caddies are fabric pockets that are tied on a walker to carry items. They’re easy to make because they simply involve sewing straight lines. Patterns are available for free online.
Toys for Children.
Women’s shelters and children’s charities often collect toys for children, especially at Christmas time. Seniors may enjoy making wooden toys or stuffed animals to donate. Even seniors who can’t use power tools to make wooden toys can enjoy painting them if a caregiver or other family member cuts them out.
Seniors may need a little help from caregivers to do some of the steps involved in making crafts for charities. They might need you to cut something out, read some instructions, or take them shopping for craft supplies. To make crafting for charity even more satisfying, caregivers may even want to join in to make it a bonding experience.
If you or someone you know needs help with caregiver services in Grand Rapids, MI, contact Gauthier Family Home Care. We provide quality and affordable home care services in our community. Call us at (616) 258-2300 for more information.
Sources
- What Your Senior Needs When Going to the Hospital - April 17, 2024
- 5 Things to Calm Your Senior Parent with Alzheimer’s - April 10, 2024
- Tips and Tricks for Helping Seniors With Spring Cleaning - April 3, 2024