Arts and crafts can be an enjoyable and therapeutic pursuit for people of all ages, promoting well being and relaxation, as well as providing an outlet for emotions and giving opportunities to connect with your inner self as well as people around you. For seniors, it offers many positive health benefits, which makes it worth giving particular consideration as a new or revisited hobby.
Making art makes you feel good about yourself. It allows you to express your emotions, and the accomplishment of finishing a project is a mood-booster. One study found that handling clay is effective at decreasing negative moods. Another study showed that people who spent 30 minutes or more on artistic pursuits during the pandemic had greater satisfaction in life and lower rates of depression than those who didn’t.
Arts and crafts, when done in a group setting, promotes connection. Social connection was a consistent benefit in a study that aimed to uncover how seniors engaged with life during the pandemic. With many seniors suffering from loneliness and isolation, the social bonds of friendship that can be gained from working on crafts together can literally be a lifesaver and prevent emotional problems like depression.
Many older adults live with chronic pain from health conditions as well. Recent studies have shown that making art may actually help to relieve that pain. A recent study showed that creating art can reduce the severity of felt pain, as well as improve mood in adults with chronic pain. A study in 2018 of hospitalized people found that just 50 minutes of art therapy lowered their pain and anxiety, as well as improved their mood.