Crafting has steadily gained popularity, especially in recent years. What might have once been seen as an activity for children has been embraced by adults of all ages. The benefits of crafting include stress relief, self-esteem enhancement, and community building. In older adults, added benefits include improved cognitive health, physical health, and emotional wellness. Senior living communities, such as Beacon Crest Senior Living, offer many daily activities and crafting opportunities.
STRESS RELIEF
Adults can struggle with a high level of stress in their daily lives. Crafting can help the focus shift to create something for enjoyment instead of steadily focusing on the to-do list. Adults can unplug while dedicating thirty minutes or an hour of the day to crafting. People might believe there is not enough time in the day. Dedicating a time slot to crafting can help individuals find renewed energy while tackling their regular responsibilities. Here are a few crafting ideas that take less than an hour to do:
COGNITIVE HEALTH
The National Institute on Aging describes cognitive health as the ability to “clearly think, learn, and remember.” One of the recommended activities in strengthening brain health is exploring a new hobby. Studies found that adults who engaged in various hobbies experienced improved memory and self-esteem. The importance of brain health increases as adults navigate the aging process. Brain health includes cognitive health and motor, tactile, and emotional function. These health functions affect how the brain processes emotions, touch sensations, balance, and memory retention. Crafting is one available possibility for supporting cognitive health.
SOCIALIZATION
Emotional wellness is the ability to successfully handle life’s stresses and adapt to change in difficult times. The Mayo Clinic reports that “socializing not only staves off feelings of loneliness, but also it helps sharpen memory and cognitive skills, increases your sense of happiness and well-being, and may even help you live longer.” Senior living homes, such as Beacon Crest Senior Living, create multiple opportunities for socialization. Mealtimes create an opportunity for casual conversation while enjoying nutritionally dense foods. Other possibilities for socialization include exercise classes, bus trips, crafting, games, movie nights, music concerts, and theatre trips. While it might seem like just a fun way to pass the time, crafting creates an opportunity for socialization, cognitive health, and stress relief.