Senior Living News

Do you have lots of old photos tucked away where no one can see them? Turning them into a scrapbook preserves those precious memories, but it can also benefit older adults cognitively, emotionally and physically. Explore the benefits of scrapbooking for older adults as well as how to scrapbook and some ideas.

Benefits of Scrapbooking for Older Adults

Creating a scrapbook is a fun, crafty project that many older adults enjoy doing. Beyond the pure enjoyment the activity brings, scrapbooking also offers several benefits for older adults, including:

• Preserving memories for people with dementia: Looking at the photos while creating the scrapbook gives you the opportunity to recall memories with your loved one. This can be helpful if they have memory loss or dementia. The finished product can also give your loved one something to look at as a reminder of important people and memories.
• Engaging fine motor skills: Aging can decrease fine motor control. Scrapbooking requires you to pick up, cut and glue small objects, which lets older adults use those fine motor skills. You can also modify scrapbooking to accommodate different skill levels by precutting pictures and helping with adhesives.
• Socialization: Scrapbooking with loved ones or as part of a scrapbooking group provides a socialization opportunity, which can combat loneliness. Older adults can share their stories about the photos to connect with others.
• Stress reduction: Being crafty can help reduce stress and anxiety. It can help an older adult focus more on something productive and less on their problems or worries.
• Satisfying emotional needs: Sharing stories and looking back at special memories can offer emotional fulfillment. When you scrapbook with your loved one or look at the scrapbook together, you share that emotional connection, which can strengthen your bond.

What to Put in a Scrapbook

Photos play a central role in any scrapbook. You'll typically include a few photos per page, but the exact number is up to your creative vision. You can also add other keepsakes or reminders that relate to the photos. Examples include:

• Transportation tickets, such as plane or train tickets
• Event tickets
• Drawings or handwritten items
• Postcards
• Greeting cards
• Maps showing where you've traveled
• Invitations to events shown in the photos
• News articles
• Event programs
• Flower petals, confetti or other scraps from events
• Scraps of fabric from something meaningful

Themes for Scrapbooks

A theme isn't necessary for your scrapbook, but it can make it more fun. Focusing on a specific theme can also help you choose the photos and decorations you'll use in the book. Some theme ideas for older adults include:

• Grandchildren
• Retirement or former career
• Military service
• Vacation
• Pets
• Holidays
• Family traditions
• Church family
• Hobbies

How to Scrapbook With Older Adults

Scrapbooking is flexible and doesn't have a lot of firm rules, which means you can customize the craft project the way you want it. However, you'll need some basic supplies to get the project started.

Supplies You'll Need

You can find a wide range of scrapbooking supplies at craft stores, including seemingly endless options for scrapbook paper, stickers and page embellishments. However, you only need the basics to get started. Here are some supplies you'll need to start scrapbooking:

• Photo album or binder
• Acid-free adhesive
• Acid-free paper
• Embellishments
• Markers or pens
• Photos and other keepsakes

You can use glue as the adhesive if it's photo-safe. However, glue can get messy and can be difficult for older adults with limited fine motor skills to control. Scrapbooking tapes, glue dots and photo corners are often easier since they won't ooze all over the page. They're also easy to stick in place where you want them. Experiment with different types of adhesives to find one that works best for you.

Scrapbooking Process

There's some flexibility in scrapbooking, but here are the basic steps:

1. Plan your overall theme and the page layout.
2. Choose the photos and mementos for the page.
3. Choose decorative paper for the page background or photo frames.
4. Select other page decorations.
5. Cut the photos, paper and decorations as needed to fit the page and desired layout.
6. Place the elements on the page to finalize your layout.
7. Attach each element to the page with your adhesive.
8. Write captions or details on the page.
9. Add any final embellishments to the page.
10. Once it dries, place the finished page in a page protector to prevent damage.

Making Scrapbooking Easier for Older Adults

Prepare as much of the scrapbooking material as possible before you sit down to craft. Trimming the photos in advance, opening packages and putting out supplies so they're easy to see are examples of things you can do ahead of time.

Make sure the tools are easy for your loved one to handle. For example, get scissors with large handles that they can grip easily, or use large scrapbooking punch tools that your loved one can simply push down to cut out shapes. A freestanding magnifying glass can also help older adults see what they're doing better if they have vision limitations.

A finished scrapbook can be a great gift idea for your loved one, or they can make scrapbooks to give to other people. Whether your loved one enjoys scrapbooking or other craft projects, LifeStream at Glendale offers access to a creative arts room where residents can get crafty.