Holiday Crafting with your Loved One in a Senior Living Facility| Senior Living | Residence 600

No matter where your loved one lives, they still may enjoy the simple pleasures of holiday crafts. If you are able to visit your relative or friend in a senior living facility this year, you can prepare simple art projects to do together when you visit. You can do as much preparation at home as needed for your loved one's needs, or the simple projects below can be a special way to share time together.

• Button Tree From wide tongue depressors or craft sticks, glue together a triangle (like a tree). Paint it green or silver and pass a thread or string through the top and tie. This will allow the decoration to be hung on a tree or wall. When the paint is dry, glue large buttons or stickers around the front of the "tree." An inch-wide piece of corrugated cardboard makes a trunk at the bottom. Be sure to include a star or little angel at the top. Adding your dear one's name or names of family members will personalize the craft.

 

• Felt Picture Wreath From green felt, cut round doughnut-shaped circles for wreaths, with the hole in the center about an inch or two across. Each ornament will need two identical wreaths. Place small family photographs, about the size of a child's school picture, wider than the hole cut-out, but smaller than the wreath, between the two green layers and glue the felt together, so that a smiling face peaks out through the wreath. Be sure to put a loop of yarn between the layers before gluing, as a hanger for the ornament. Sequins, buttons, yarn bows or paper decorations can be glued on the wreath to decorate. If you don't have family pictures to use, cut out appropriate pictures from old Christmas cards, the shinier the better. Multiple felt ornaments can be hung on a small tree or as a garland in your loved one's room.

 

• Flower Arrangements Even delicate hands can enjoy the pleasure of making a holiday flower arrangement. Buy a variety of holiday-colored artificial flowers-- white and red or blue and silver will make a striking display, holly and berries are fun: be imaginative! Add a simple pottery or plastic container. Let your friend or relative choose the stems they like the most and arrange them into the pot, the more the merrier. The extra joy of this craft is that it can be rearranged over and over, and it takes no special skills. The finished display will brighten up their room.

 
If you are not able to visit your family member at holiday time, prepare one craft in advance and box it with the supplies needed for a matching one. They may enjoy making their own version of the craft project. But if you are able to be together, the special treasure will be in the memories of being creative together.
 
Kim Rayas
Residence 600
[email protected]
www.residence600.com
600 E. Elm
Salina KS 67401
(785) 822-1300