I need some ideas

What an absolutely wonderful venture!!! Be proud!!

Susan, I think that this is a wonderful idea! Are the residetns allowed to fund-raise? That could keep them interested, if they wre permitted to sell what they make.

Katherine

Susan, E-mail me and I will mail you a Kumihimo kit. I have taught the elderly (laughing) I am in that group myself) kumihimo braiding and men as well as women like doing it. I can also sent you some information of doing felting. Again it is easy to do and does not cost a lot. Susan, did I talk to you about kumihimo already...??

Els

The questionnnaire sounds good. Be sure to have both multiple-choice suggestions to trigger memory and blank space for write-ins.

Do you remember that bit in the news about the nursing home residents who crocheted a roomful of furniture and accessories? Everything from "cakes" to a "radio". Maybe you could start with crocheted teacups and saucers, and encourage the participating residents to come up with ideas for other things. I think there was a book of crocheted and knitted desserts by someone, and I know there are doll patterns. Also, for people who can't hold the knitting needles reliably but could hold a yarn needle, you could teach nalbinding. No stitches to drop, not even the single one of crochet, and it's easy to change colors and do 3-D work. It's what people did before knitting and still do in some places.

If you can get them to come up with ideas, that should help sustain interest.

You might also consider experimenting with different size changes, such as the enormous sweater one store somewhere has on their wall (about ten feet across, if I remember the photo in the magazine correctly). Or for those who have fine control and can use thin needles/small hooks, extremely tiny projects, such as knitted stocking earrings or even tiny sweaters as pins or pendants. Goofy hats, wild-colored wigs (there's one on a website, sorry I'm blanking on all the sources), even free-form knitting and crocheting where you just start anywhere and go in all directions as the whim moves you. Maybe a group freeform that anyone can work on at any time, in any form or direction? (That way nobody can claim somebody "spoiled" it, and memory failure won't be a problem.)

For the more conservative, or those who lack confidence, there are

6x6 swatches to make, to test patterns (so there's less pressure for perfection) and to be able to complete something quickly that can be part of a larger project.

=Tamar

After all the wonderful ideas, I will add only my two cents. DH grandma, who lives in a nursing home and is wheelchair bounded,=20 really appreciated a crocheted purse I made for her. Her ordinary bag=20 was far too big and she had to go around with the wallet in her hands.=20 Not so practical when you have to manouvre a wheelchair. It=B4s very simple, just a folded rectangle. The shoulder strap has to be= =20 not too long. I added a stylish botton but even crochet covered ordinary =

buttons are very beautiful. They can make purses in any stitch. The boring part (for me) is the=20 lining, if needed LOL A good hint I got from a website made by a wheelchair bounded person (I=20 can=B4t find it right now, sorry) is to use cheerful colors for people=20 living in nursing homes. I made a lapghan for grandma in VERY bright colors and she=B4s very pride= =20 of it.

Hugs and good luck to you and the residents!

Anna Maria

Susan , I have experience working with people who had a stroke [lost part of the speech ability]. I taught Weaving and used the pedals to help them regain part of their word ability. I also reorganized courses for Handcraft instructors, amongst them instructors for people with disabilitis. Your idea of giving people a questionaire is fantastic. I would advice you also to speak to physiotherapists and have a list or booklets that specify the abilities of certain groups in the nursing home. Some people need certain preparations. Some can or canot use certain tools,,, I would also advice preparing Huge Help cardboards. I willprepare some names of books that might help you . Every handcraft can be adapted to different abilities , May you have great joy in this important undertaking. mirjam

Good Morning, I really don't have any experience working with the elderly and crafts but I think that it is a great idea for them to do crafts. I am sure many of them have done projects before and some may even be of help in teaching. There are two nursing homes in my area that have craft shows and sales twice a year, spring and fall. They have tables set up where the residents sell their handmades. They are inexpensive and the sellers are always smiling. Last year I bought an lapghan last year for $4.00 for my DD. These sales are so popular that you have a hard time finding parking! It seems are the residents who do the crafts have something to work towards, they keep themselves busy throughout the year, and make a little money along the way. Have fun with it! Diane

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