Hobbies like scrapbooking are more than just a fun way for seniors to pass the time. Doing scrapbook projects can actually provide a wealth of physical, mental, and emotional health benefits for your elderly loved one. Here are a few to consider.
Boosts Physical Dexterity
Seniors with decreased motor functions sometimes see an occupational therapist to regain physical skills like handling tools. When you and your loved one work together on a scrapbook project, it can function as an in-home type of occupational therapy. Gluing, writing captions, cutting, and embellishing pages of a scrapbook can all help exercise your loved one’s dexterity. Encourage your loved one to independently complete as many tasks as possible, even if you can do them quicker.
Helps Recall Memories
As seniors age, their memories can become more difficult to recall. Sorting through old photos, pieces of fabric, theater programs, and other similar items used to create a scrapbook can be wonderful tools in helping your loved one jog his or her memory. You can also help your loved one by adding heartfelt captions to the finished project so he or she can look back on it and fondly reminisce.
Provides a Sense of Accomplishment
Seniors who design and finish scrapbooks with their loved ones or Toronto hourly caregivers can boost their feelings of accomplishment and enhance their self-esteem. This is why scrapbooking can be especially important for seniors who have a cognitive disorder like dementia because they may find it difficult to complete tasks and feel a loss of control. Whether or not your loved one has a degenerative disease, finishing a scrapbook project can help him or her feel in control and rewarded.
Offers Emotional Nourishment
Some seniors may feel like a burden to the family members who provide Toronto home care for them on a daily basis. Scrapbooking can be an emotionally fulfilling way to and bring you and your loved one together. Taking the time to do a project with your loved one can comfort him or her, and looking at old memories while building new ones can also be therapeutic and help him or her relax.
Keeping your loved one’s mind and body active is crucial for helping maintain his or her health. If your loved one needs assistance with daily activities, turn to Home Care Assistance. We are a leading provider of Parkinson’s, stroke, and Alzheimer’s care in Toronto, and our caregivers can assist with a wide variety of daily tasks. For more information on our in-home care services, please call one of our friendly Care Managers at (416) 488-8777 today.