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 develo

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 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

We went for a walk in our neighbourhood and we found many beautiful pinecones in the paths of the Trans Canada Trails of Stittsville, Ontario. We must of collected over 20 of the pinecones and put them in a large clay bowl on our bookcase and started thinking about dressing them up after collecting a basket full. We went to the local craft store and started looking around for ideas and Voilà! We decided to paint just the tips of a pinecone to give it a pop of colour. What's N

As we begin the month of November, we are reminded of the sacrifices those before us made in ensuring the safety and prosperity of our country. To honour them, we wear poppies as a sign of respect and a remembrance of the famous poem "In Flander's Field" by John McCrae. In today's activity, we are reusing some egg cartons, craft paint, and other basic supplies to create a Remembrance Day poppy wreath to display throughout the month. Poppy Wreath What's Needed: Egg carton, in

Ever wonder what to do with those empty paper rolls? Well, why not make some fun and spooky Halloween characters?! In today's blog, we show you how easy crafting can be for you and your loved ones this Halloween! Materials Empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls Craft paint in Halloween colours (i.e. black, orange, white, yellow) Paintbrushes Accessories, such as pipe cleaners, craft paper, googly eyes, string, etc. Craft glue Markers or pencil crayons Instructions Using cr

At this time of year, finding natural objects such as leaves, pine cones, and twigs are easy to find and most importantly they make great arts and crafts materials! If you find a variety of pine cones laying about the yard, why not try some of these options during your next craft session!? Painted Pine Cones One of the easiest, yet festive, crafts to make with pine cones is simply by painting them your favourite colours! Using acrylic paint, some brushes, and patience can br

August 23rd is #NationalRidetheWindDay. This day celebrates the first human-powered flight to win the Kremer prize in 1977. Bryan Allen completes a figure-eight course piloting and powering the Gossamer Condor to claim the prize! Photo of the Gossamer Condor (Don Monroe ©) We thought it would be a great time to honour early flight and airplane technology by creating our own Airplanes using clothespins and other household or easy-to-find items. This is an activity that seni

If you're looking to add more nature to your indoor spaces that need very little care, then a terrarium may be just what you need! A terrarium is like an aquarium, but for plants instead of fish! It is made in just about any glass container. It is planted to look like a miniature garden or forest enclosed in its own little world. Succulent or Air Plant Terrariums Materials Mason jar or any open glass container/vase/candleholder Succulent/Cacti Soil (if using succulents) Grave

The 2021 Summer Olympics have begun in Tokyo! Now it may not have the same fanfare and crowded stadiums as in pre-pandemic times, but we thought it would still be fun to participate in Olympic-themed games with the seniors in our care. Many residents enjoy watching the opening and closing ceremonies and various games on television, so this is a great way for them to feel part of the action! Here are 5 great ideas to bring the Olympics to your elderly loved ones and resident

Who's a fan of ice cream!? These cute, colourful ice cream-inspired fans can help keep you cool in these hot summer months! Materials Templates included here (or you can draw your own!) Cardstock (thicker paper, but printer paper will do!) Tongue depressors (wooden) or popsicle/craft sticks Markers, pencil crayons, or paint Embellishments, such as pom-poms, glitter, ribbon, stickers, etc. Scissors Craft glue Instructions Using the templates included here, or by drawing your o

Playing games at any age is a fun and easy way to socialize, laugh, and share experiences. As we get older, games become less frequent as our friends and family move away or get busy with their lives, work, children, etc. But playing social games is just as important in older adulthood as it was when we were younger. Gameplay, using words, numbers, strategies, role play and the like are wonderful ways to maintain and develop our cognitive functions (i.e. brain development i

Making a personal charm bracelet is a great way to engage both men and women in group or partner activities. Choosing bobbles and beads of their favourite colours, sorting them by shape and stringing them benefits their cognitive and fine motor functions. It is also a lot of fun! Personalized Bracelets Materials Bead cord or Embroidery Floss, preferably with stretchiness to them. Selection of holed beads, block letters, plastic or wooden shapes, etc. Scissors Instructions U

Whether in a group, with partners, or on your own, a great way to make connections with familiar objects, events, and people is through games! Now that Summer has finally started, challenge yourself and others to this Summer Words activity by guessing the words that begin with the letters S U M M E R under each category (we did a few to start you off)! Or make your own categories using the blank template. Servicing the Ottawa Community since 1998. We are now accepting client

On Sunday, June 20th, we celebrate those who taught us the value of hard work, how to fix a broken "anything", and how important family values are - we celebrate dads. So this Father's day, start a conversation with your dad or the elderly men in your care. Talk about what hobbies or interests they have or what their own fathers enjoyed doing, such as working on building projects, the love of cars, or fashion! Create these fun cards and write a special message to show how m

A wonderful way to create a work of art is by using simple tools and movements. Dot painting is particularly unique, as it uses simple cotton swabs, paper, and craft paint! This is especially helpful for seniors with limited mobility, eye-hand coordination, and focus. Here's what you need: Printed template (provided below), craft paper, or colouring page Cotton swabs, a handful (use one end of a swab for each colour) Craft paint of a variety of colours (i.e. tempera paint) Pa

Finding engaging activities for seniors can be a challenge, however, playing card games seem to be the one universal enjoyment for many older adults. It provides socialization and a sense of the familiar as they reminisce about their childhood and early years with family and friends. For those with dementia, selecting games that have few rules, take less time to play, and that they can play confidently can be quite beneficial to engage them, as well as boost their self-estee

For many seniors with dementia living in long-term care, easily locating familiar spaces, such as the community room, dining hall, or their own bedroom suites can be challenging. With this simple and easy craft, you can create a nameplate that can hang on their door or in common spaces. Using materials found at home or in inexpensive craft stores, these nameplates can be as intricate or simple in design as you wish. Materials Bristol board - colours of your choice Paint, Mar

We saw this cute craft online last week and just had to share! Made from cotton swabs, pipe-cleaners, and Play-Doh, these adorable flowers are just what you need to brighten up your day! Here's what you need to make one flower: 2 Green pipe-cleaners Yellow Play-Doh or clay A handful of cotton swabs Strong craft glue or hot glue gun Scissors 1 Sheet of Blue craft paper Instructions Cut the handful of cotton swabs in half using scissors and set aside. Take a small amount of ye

Bring back memories of moulding, sculpting, rolling, and building with colourful Playdoh by creating your own! Using playdough with seniors can promote socialization, provide fine-motor skills in hands and fingers, and bring out stories and memories of the past! Homemade Playdough Recipe Materials 1/2 cup boiling water 1/2 cup flour 1 teaspoon cream of tartar 1/4 cup salt 1.5 teaspoon canola oil 1 pack kool-aid or 4-5 drops of food colouring Instructions Combine water and foo

Just because Valentine's Day is over, doesn't mean we stop enjoying the sweet treats that come with the holiday! Baking with elderly loved ones can be both fun and therapeutic. Activities that combine fine-motor movement, step-by-step directions and memories of the past can have many benefits to seniors. Baking is an example of an activity that can benefit functional abilities (i.e. coordination, hand and finger movement), cognitive abilities, such as memory recognition and