Crafting is an excellent way to spark joy, creativity, and connection for seniors living with dementia. Simple, hands-on activities can boost mood, stimulate cognitive function, and provide a sense of accomplishment—all while being fun and budget-friendly!
Whether you're a caregiver, family member, or activity director, these 10 easy and inexpensive DIY craft ideas are designed to be adaptable, engaging, and stress-free for older adults at any stage of memory loss. Let’s explore creative projects that bring smiles and meaningful moments to your loved one’s day.
Seniors with Dementia Need Engagement and Fun
Even if someone has Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia, they still need to feel engaged in life and have fun.
Activities that have no right or wrong way to do them are ideal because they’re always fun, satisfying, and a boost to self-esteem.
Engaging activities can also be an alternative to medication because they can reduce agitation, distract from challenging behavior, and increase quality of life for seniors with dementia.
With a bit of creativity, you can transform simple household objects into easy crafts for seniors with dementia.
Here, we share 10 fun DIY (do-it-yourself) craft and activity ideas.
Keep Safety in Mind when Crafting with Seniors
It’s important to create activities that won’t cause injury to your older adult or anyone else.
You know them best and should choose what will work best and be safest for them.
For example, some people tend to put things in their mouths and try to eat them. If that’s the case, avoid objects that could damage teeth or be a choking hazard.
Another example is that some people may like to tie strings around fingers (or necks!) and cut off circulation.
10 Easy Crafts for Seniors with Dementia
1. Clip colorful clothespins
Get brightly colored full size or mini clothespins and let your older adult attach them to something like a wire basket or rack. You could also buy wooden clothespins and have fun painting them in bright colors!
2. Arrange flowers
Arranging flowers is an excellent activity for older adults who enjoy flowers or gardening. You can buy individual cuttings from a floral shop or purchase a flower arrangement and rearrange it.
Acquire some inexpensive cuttings or artificial flowers, a plastic vase, and florist foam (optional). Your older adult can have fun creating their arrangements.
3. Attach pipes and fittings
Many older adults used to enjoy being handy around the house. Remind them of those pleasant memories with an activity where they can assemble and take apart pipes.
Obtain varying lengths of inexpensive PVC pipe and some fittings, such as elbows or T-joints (the hardware store can usually cut the pipe to your specifications).
4. Sort inexpensive hardware parts or coins
Another way to enjoy handy activities is to have your older adult sort out inexpensive hardware parts like nuts, washers, or bolts.
Some older adults might also enjoy sorting a big pile of coins as a reminder of when they used to manage household finances.
If safety is a concern, you may want to consider these large plastic nuts and bolts instead.
5. Play with play-dough
Creating shapes and kneading playdough or modeling clay is a fun and relaxing activity suitable for all ages.
Get some fun cookie cutters and play dough, and watch your older adult have a ball.
You can also try this homemade play dough recipe. To make it even more relaxing, add a few drops of calming lavender essential oil.
Important: The homemade playdough recipe is non-toxic, but it should still not be considered edible. Flour that’s not cooked thoroughly can contain bacteria that can make older adults very sick.
6. Keep the beat with a homemaker shaker
Use a clean plastic container or bottle with a tight-fitting lid and place some dry beans or pasta inside. This makes a fun music shaker for almost no cost.
Play their favorite music and encourage them to shake along with the beat.
7. Match and sort picture cards
Print two copies of various photos or images that your older adult likes. It could be photos of favorite animals, beautiful flowers, or family members.
Cut them into equal-sized cards and laminate them using clear packing tape or contact paper.
The cards can be used for a simple sorting game, a matching game, or to admire the lovely images.
8. Make a scrapbook
Get an inexpensive notebook, some old magazines or catalogs, a glue stick, and safety scissors.
Your older adult can flip through the magazines, tear or cut out things they like, and stick them into their scrapbook.
9. Stack up plastic cups
Get some inexpensive plastic party cups in bright colors. Ask your older adult to help you clean up by sorting or stacking the cups.
10. Create a spelling tray
Sticking colorful magnetic letters on a clean metal tray is a fun way to spell familiar words or just play with the shapes and colors. Use a simple baking sheet (with raised sides) as the tray
Recommended for you:
- 10 Fun, No-Fail Activities for People with Dementia
- Jigsaw Puzzles for Seniors at All Ability Levels
- Music Seniors Love: Top Songs from Every Generation
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About the Author
Connie Chow
Connie was a hands-on caregiver for her grandmother for 20 years. (Grandma made it to 101 years old!) She knows how challenging, overwhelming, and all-consuming caring for an older adult can be. She also knows how important support is — especially in the form of practical solutions, valuable resources, and self-care tips.
Mrs. Bennett
I work at an Alzheimer Dementia day care facility and one of the activities we do is something I call “Name that Jargon”
This game stimulates memory and it also challenge the clients.
How to play:
You may UAE your computer or cell phones to search for jargon of the past. For example; jargon of the 20’s or 30’s etc..
Say the phrase and let the others guess what the word might have meant in that era.
Make sure you express the phrase in the way it would have been expressed when used in a phrase during that particular era.
This activity has brought lots of participation and laughs for everyone.
I hope this will help in your efforts to offer more activities .
I work with a 90 year old client with short-term memory issues. I have used ‘Paint by Sticker’ art books for quite some time and find and she has enjoyed creating with them for more than a year now. I have found them at Barnes and Nobles and on Amazon.com. Check it out.
Excellent suggestion for a wonderful activity, thanks for sharing! We found a variety of Paint by Sticker books here at Amazon https://amzn.to/3BNbWg7
My husband and I have moved to a lodge for “Seniors with issues” like alzheimers & dementia. But they don’t have programs to use the mind – walk, visit, but not create.
DON AND I HAVE ALZEIMERS & DEMENTIA but entertain ourselves.
The Lodge says “no programs in the summer” = Aug – Sept – and ? oct.
This does not help us and will leave many frustrated and getting worse because of NO interactions.
I NEED HELP AND INEXPENSIVE IDEAS WE CAN DO TO HELP US ALL AND TO KEEP US BUSY AND NOT STAGNEMT WATCHING TV. WE CAN’T GO ON WALKS BECAUSE THE STAFF SUPPORT WILL BE MINIMAL AND IT IS VERY HOT IN THE SUMMER – BUT WE CAN MAKE SOMETHING TO SLIDE UNDER DOORS = HMMM THAT’S A GOOD IDEA!
DOES IT HELP TO TEAM UP OR HAVE THEM WORK ALONE – I THINK TEAM UP OF 2-4 WOULD BE BETTER AND GIVE SUPPORT AND CONTINUAL ACTIVITY AND BETTER FRIENDSHIPS…. PLEASE GIVE ME SOME GUIDANCE!!!!!!!!!!!
THANK YOU, CATHY BENNETT
WE LIVE IN [redacted for privacy] CANADA — NO BUS OR SUCH AND NOT A LOT OF MONEY. [redacted for privacy]
THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME.
I CA’NT SEE ANYTHING POSITIVE BY DISCONTINUING PROGRAMS FOR THE AUG, SEPT AND POSSIBLE OCT MONTHS.
PLEASE HELP ME!!!!
We’re sorry to hear about the reduction in services. Perhaps you’d be interested in some of our activity suggestions for people with Alzheimer’s or dementia at https://dailycaring.com/tag/alzheimers-dementia-activities/
I hope you are not paying much. They need to hire a creative director. That person would not have to be on site all the time. Just come on site occasionally with project materials and ideas. Make calendars, photo albums etc. Anything to take home and display.
I tried making my mum doing execrises but she refuses wat else can I do
The best thing to do is offer a variety of activities that she may be interested in. Ultimately, you can’t force her to do anything if she won’t participate.
We’ve got dozens of senior-friendly activity and exercise suggestions here:
– Activities https://dailycaring.com/category/daily-care/activities-older-adults/
– Exercise https://dailycaring.com/tag/exercise/
Thank you so much!
My grandmother has Alzheimer’s disease and lives with her son who is her full time caregiver. I shared this article with him and he said that fitting pipes was a big success!
As we all know, providing care to an Alzheimer’s patient can be taxing to say the least. Any activity that can keep them occupied for any length of time can be a lifesaver for the caregiver.
We’re so glad these suggestions are helpful!