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Activities for Seniors

Winter Polar Bear Craft

Activities for Men, Activities for Seniors / By

As we prepare for the colder snowy weather this winter, cozy up with this cute winter polar bear craft!

Please note** This activity has a number of pieces that should be prepared ahead of time especially if your elderly loved one or clients have difficulty with fine-motor skills or eye-hand coordination when using scissors and drawing.

Materials

  • White craft paper
  • Scissors
  • Markers or Coloured Pencils
  • Craft glue
  • Blue craft paper (for background)

Instructions

1 Using the white craft papaer and a pencil, draw 3 circles of different sizes for the body and face of the polar bear and 6 small circles for the ears, arms, and feet (see image below). Cut and set aside.

You may also trace objects, such as bottle lids/caps, to create “perfect” circles!

2 Arrange the body parts using the photo below as a guide and carefully glue each piece to secure them. At this time you may wish to glue the polar bear to the blue craft paper background.

3 Once the pieces have been secured with glue and your polar bear is mounted to the background paper, begin to decorate! Using a black marker or coloured pencil, colour in the bear’s feet, face, and ears and bring your character to life!

Be Creative! If you don’t want to use a black marker, try a different colour of your choice.

4 Now it’s time to design the background. Using markers or coloured pencils, decorate the background with snowflakes or use more craft paper to add different features!

Servicing the Ottawa Community since 1998. We are now accepting clients in Smith Falls, Kemptville, Prescott, Brockville, through to Kingston, Ontario.

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Winter Snowman Craft

Activities for Men, Activities for Seniors / By

One of the fun ways of celebrating the winter season is through arts and crafts. As we age, we tend to do less and less of these activities. This may be due to reduced fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination concerns, or lack of accessibility to materials or tools for the craft. For those with Dementia and Alzheimer’s or individuals living in Retirement homes or long-term care, these art and craft activities can greatly improve their socialization and functional skill development.

Today’s activity uses a number of skills, such as functional hand movements using scissors, eye-hand coordination when placing objects on paper using glue, and motor functioning with the use of markers/pencils for drawing and design.

Of course, depending on the needs of your elderly loved one, or those in your care, you may pre-cut the shapes for them to assemble. This provides support while in turn giving them a level of independence and pride in their final creative piece of art.

For this and more activities, make sure to visit our blog often, follow us on social media, or subscribe to our monthly newsletter and activity booklet!

Materials

  • Snowman Outline (provided below, or draw your own)
  • Scissors
  • Craft paper for background
  • Craft glue
  • Markers, pencil crayons or paint for drawing
  • Embellishments, such as cotton balls, glitter, small buttons, etc.

Instructions

  1. Print the Snowman outline template on plain white paper. begin to colour, draw or paint each piece.
  2. Carefully cut out each piece and set aside
  3. Using craft glue, adhere the snowman body onto the colourful craft paper.
  4. Carefully arrange and glue each piece of the snowman (arms, nose, and scarf).
  5. Use markers, chalk, or pencil crayons to design snowflakes or other wintery scene in the backbround. You may also want to cut out a hat for your snowman and add cotton balls as snow or part of the snowman!
  6. Let dry and display your creation for all to see!

Snowman Template

Servicing the Ottawa Community since 1998. We are now accepting clients in Smith Falls, Kemptville, Prescott, Brockville, through to Kingston, Ontario.

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Mason Jar Night Light

Activities for Men, Activities for Seniors / By

In the crafting world, mason jars are super versatile! They are no longer just used for jams and preserves, but instead have been seen online as a staple in crafting and home decor! From mounted flower vases, terrariums, snowglobes, and candle holders, mason jars have set the stage for creativity.

In today’s activity blog, we are making mason jar night lights! A perfect addition to rooms for all ages. It can be as simple as placing a string of lights into a jar or as whimsical as this Snowman night light using battery-operated tea lights!

Snowman Night Light

Materials

  • 1 mason jar or several if you plan on making a snow family
  • Tissue paper (white, black and orange)
  • 2 gem decals or googly eyes
  • Small buttons or other embellishments
  • White glue with a little water added
  • Scissors
  • Paint brush
  • Newspaper for clean up
  • Paper plate for mixing glue
  • Battery-operated tea light candles

Instructions

  1. Lay newspaper out on a table for easy clean up should spills occur.
  2. Clean and dry mason jar(s) inside and out.
  3. Cut or tear tissue paper in small squares which you will use for the snowman’s body. If using orange and black tissue paper, simply cut them out for shaping the nose, eyes and buttons of your snowman.
  4. Pour some white glue onto your plate and mix with a small amount of water to thin the glue. Mix well.
  5. With a paintbrush, brush some glue onto the jar. Lay down a square of tissue paper onto the spot with glue. Cover the piece of tissue paper with more glue. Overlap squares and continue until the whole jar is covered. Allow to dry overnight.
  6. Glue on the mouth, nose, buttons and eyes and allow to dry.
  7. Place a battery-operated tea light candle in the bottom of the jar and display to enjoy throughout the evening!

Photo credit.

Servicing the Ottawa Community since 1998. We are now accepting clients in Smith Falls, Kemptville, Prescott, Brockville, through to Kingston, Ontario.

#snowman #winter #nightlight #masonjar #craft #acivitiesforseniors #seniorcare #seniorliving #healthcare #ottawahomecare #elderlycare #assistedliving #caregiving #homehealthcare #dementia #eldercare #elderly #alzheimers #parkinsons #health #homecare #ottnews #seniorhomecareinottawa #senior #dementiacare #Ottawa #retirement #LHIN

Make Some Noise on NYE!

Activities for Men, Activities for Seniors / By

Ever wonder what to do with all that leftover gift wrapping and boxes?!

Usher in the new year with this fun New Years’ Eve noisemaker craft using those shiny festive wrapping paper scraps, some household items and a little creativity.

Paddle Noisemaker Craft

Materials

  • Cardboard
  • String or twine
  • Wrapping paper scraps
  • Craft glue
  • “Noisemakers”, such as beads, buttons, bells capable of threading string into
  • Craft sticks (wooden popsicle sticks or wider)
  • Scissors

Instructions

Follow the directions below or watch this video for similar instructions.

  1. Using cardboard, draw 2 circles approx. the size of a small to medium bowl. Carefully cut out the circle.
  2. Using the wrapping paper, glue on to one side of each circle. You may want to cover the entire circle with one piece of wrapping paper or use small torn scraps and create a mosaic! Set aside to dry.
  3. Using a single hole punching tool, cut 3 – 4 holes along the left and right edge of the circles. To make sure the holes match, you can use the first circle and trace the holes onto the 2nd circle.
  4. Line up your circles on top of one another (decorated side facing outwards). Make sure the holes line up. Create an opening and place the craft stick between the two circles to create a handle at the bottom. Using glue, adhere part of the stick to the plain inside of the circles. Let dry.
  5. Cut string to measure double the length of the circles you created. Measure and cut as many strings as you have holes on your noisemaker. Thread each string halfway into each hole. This will help fasten the circles together too!
  6. Begin to thread your noisemaking accessories, such as beads, buttons, bells, etc. on each string. Tie a knot at the end of each string.

Now you are ready to make some noise! Simply hold the noisemaker’s handle and turn, twist, or wave the paddle and let the bells, buttons or beads make a sound against the decorated cardboard!

Happy New Year!

Servicing the Ottawa Community since 1998. We are now accepting clients in Smith Falls, Kemptville, Prescott, Brockville, through to Kingston, Ontario.

#NewYearsEve #noisemaker #craft #activitiesforseniors #seniorcare #seniorliving #healthcare #ottawahomecare #elderlycare #assistedliving #caregiving #homehealthcare #dementia #eldercare #elderly #alzheimers #parkinsons #health #mealassistance #homecare #ottnews #seniorhomecareinottawa #mealsonwheels #senior #dementiacare #Ottawa #ottawaretirement #retirement #ottcity #LHIN

Christmas BINGO!

Activities for Men, Activities for Seniors / By

For today’s activity, we thought it would be fun to gather as a group and play a fun and festive game of Christmas BINGO!

Socialization during the holidays is key for many of our elderly loved ones and this is a perfect way to get them engaged in an activity that is familiar and enjoyable. Whether as a group (up to 8 players) or as partners, use these festive BINGO game boards and call-out cards at your next holiday gathering. Prizes, you ask? Why not gather a few essential items such as holiday socks, gloves/mittens, hats, scarves, and of course some hot chocolate!

Happy Holidays from all of us at Ideal Caregivers 4u!

Christmas BINGO Printables

Click on the image below to download your copy of 8 festive game boards and a set of call-out cards!

Servicing the Ottawa Community since 1998.
We are now accepting clients in Smith Falls, Kemptville, Prescott, Brockville, through to Kingston, Ontario.

Benefits of Singing

Activities for Men, Activities for Seniors, Health & Wellness / By

As the holiday season is in full swing, so are the many traditional and current Christmas carols found on the radio, music streaming services, in retail stores and perhaps even on our own devices! But did you know that music, and in turn, singing is actually beneficial to our health?

Singing can significantly help seniors afflicted with neurological diseases by improving brain functionality. Singing is also a great activity that produces more oxygen in the blood, improves circulation and deep breathing, resulting in less stress and more “feel good” hormones.

Promotes Engagement in Social Activities

In addition to several health benefits, being a part of a choir or social singing group, even casual sing-a-long activities, can create a positive social network for your elderly loved one. This regular activity builds new relationships and creates something for them to look forward to.

Improvement in Brain Health

Singing can directly impact the emotional regulators within the brain. This can help improve a person’s overall mood by the release of certain chemicals like dopamine. Singing touches on four of the five key cornerstones of brain health: movement (being active), discovery (learning new things), relaxation (stabilizing mood) and connection (networking with others).

Overall Quality of Life

Older adults that sing at home or as part of a group may experience some of the following quality of life changes:

  • Increased self-confidence
  • Improved interaction with other people in social settings
  • Reduced anxiety and aggression
  • Fewer incidences of depression
  • Fewer hospital visits
  • Ability to communicate even with speech difficulties
  • Improvements in the tone of their speaking voices
  • Easier breathing
  • Improved posture

Aas the holiday season can be a source of loneliness and sadness for our elderly, singing those well-known childhood favourites can make a difference in the lives of seniors. Its benefits include the development and maintenance of friendships, increased happiness, uplifting and positive feelings, and reduced anxiety.

So crank up those old favourites and sing along! If you don’t know the lyrics, here is one of our favourite tunes, also ranked #1 Christmas song, you may remember!

Servicing the Ottawa Community since 1998. We are now accepting clients in Smith Falls, Kemptville, Prescott, Brockville, through to Kingston, Ontario.

Paper Christmas Trees

Activities for Men, Activities for Seniors / By

During the holiday season, it’s important to gather with family and friends for some fun and festive activities!

One such activity is making and decorating paper Christmas trees like the one below!

Using simple craft items, you can create your own personalized tree to display and decorate your home or your loved one’s room.

Here’s what you need:

  • Green craft paper
  • Scissors
  • Craft glue
  • Small craft items, such as pom-poms, beads, buttons, bells, stickets, etc.

Instructions:

  1. Draw a simple Christmas tree shape (or just a triangle will do!) and carefully cut it out usuing scissors.
  2. Using a small dot of glue, begin decorating your tree with the craft items you have. You can choose a colour theme or mix it up for some personality!
  3. Let dry before displaying with other Christmas decor, or make more than one and create a Christmas tree garland!

View the images below for more decorating ideas!

For more activities, or to find out how we can help your elderly loved one participate in activities like this, visit our website today!

Servicing the Ottawa Community since 1998. We are now accepting clients in Smith Falls, Kemptville, Prescott, Brockville, through to Kingston, Ontario.

Paper Doily Christmas Trees

Activities for Seniors / By

For some of us, Christmas shopping has already begun as we anticipate gathering more with family and friends this year. So why not begin your Christmas crafting too!?

Begin with this sweet Christmas tree made from paper doilies and simple embellishments!

Materials

  • Paper Doilies (4 – 6inches)
  • Wooden Popsicle Sticks
  • Ribbon
  • Decorations
  • Glue

Instructions


  1. Fold the paper doily with one-third on the top and two-thirds on the bottom. The “wrong” side of the doily should be inside the fold.
  2. Fold the doily by two-thirds.
  3. With the two-thirds side facing upward, use the ruler to determine the one-third point along the folded edge. Fold over one-third of the doily at this point.
  4. Fold the paper doily again making a flat cone shape. Work with the shape until the cone edges are even on each side.
  5. The larger flap rests under the smaller flap to showcase the fluted edges on the Easy Christmas Crafts Paper Doily Folded Christmas Tree Ornament.
  6. Using the wooden popsicle stick, glue to the back of the tree for stability.
  7. Decorate with embellishments such as ribbons, pom-poms, glitter, stickers, etc.
  8. If you make more than one, think about stringing them together with ribbon to create a garland, or if making one, use the ribbon to make a loop at the top and hang it on your tree!

For more inspiration, go online or visit youtube for a number of paper doily Christmas crafts and activities for all ages! Want help encouraging your senior loved one to participate in arts and crafts or other activities of daily life? Visit our website or call us today to see how we can help! Servicing the Ottawa Community since 1998. We are now accepting clients in Smith Falls, Kemptville, Prescott, Brockville, through to Kingston, Ontario.

Stretches For Seniors

Activities for Seniors, Fitness for Seniors, Health & Wellness / By

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Autumn Scenes

Activities for Men, Activities for Seniors / By

A great way to incorporate the falling autumn leaves into your artistic and creative moments is by using them to create a beautiful fall scene. Include physical fitness and fresh air by collecting the leaves with your elderly loved ones, or those in your care, outdoors and have them ready for crafting when you return indoors….and don’t forget a nice cup of hot chocolate to go with it!

Materials: 


🍁 Craft or printer paper

🍁 Dry leaves collected ahead of time

🍁 Craft glue

🍁 Decorative items, such as popsicle/craft sticks, bare paper towel roll, clay or Play-Dough, etc.

🍁 Markers or paints

🍁 Scissors 

Tips for your Scene:


  • Using the paper (colourful construction paper or plain white paper), design or draw your scene. This can simply be a tree with bare branches, a house (made by gluing down popsicle sticks in a simple shape), a wide-rimmed circle to create a wreath or any outdoor scene you choose!

  • Use the decorative pieces to form the base of a tree (paper towel roll), sticks for branches, or string/rope for the edge of the wreath. Whatever you choose, ensure they are securely fastened with glue and let dry.

  • You may also paint or draw on your paper if gluing objects is too challenging.

  • Using the leaves you collected, glue them down with a couple of dots of glue on the back of the leaf. Place them in areas where leaves may be in your scene. It could be on the branches or below the tree, around the wreath design, or in a big pile outside of the house (fun for jumping into when we were kids!)

  • Let dry fully before displaying on a wall or in a frame.

  • Don’t forget to sign your artwork!