May Flowers Basket: Crafts for Dementia Patients
You know the saying... April showers bring May flowers. Now you can bring the beauty of May flowers to a loved one with dementia with this May Flowers Basket. This project is an easy dementia craft to get your loved one -- and your home -- ready for the spring and summer seasons.
Crafts are a great way to maintain dexterity in the fingers while stimulating brain activity. For this dementia craft, explain the project and then allow your loved one to do it in their own style.
Remember that the key to these projects is an enjoyable activity, not the end result. To enhance the spirit of the dementia craft project, play your loved one’s favorite music and keep the tone light.
What You’ll Need:
- A deep, narrow wicker or plastic basket
- One-inch ribbon of any style
- Foam floral block
- Silk or plastic flowers
- Glue
Steps:
1. Glue the ribbon around the base of the basket.
2. Tie a length of the same ribbon to each handle, creating a strap to hang the basket.
3. Place the foam floral block into the base of the basket.
4. Add flowers by pushing them into the foam block and arranging to your personal taste.
5. Hang the basket on a door like a wreath.
Caregiver tips:
- A basket with side handles makes adding the hanging ribbon easier. If your basket does not have handles, you can use a glue gun to attach the ribbon after the project is complete.
- Get your loved one involved by starting the activity yourself and asking them to join in.
- Be flexible and don’t criticize. Enjoy the activity even if the end result isn’t perfect.
- While doing the craft, engage your loved one in conversation.
- Activities have the best chance of success in the morning between breakfast and lunch when your loved one is well-rested. If they don’t want to participate or get frustrated, don’t force it. Try again at another time.
- If your loved one has dementia, a hospice care team can provide support for both the patient and family. This added assistance can be key in avoiding caregiver burnout.
See more dementia craft ideas or caregiver tips on our Pinterest Board.
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