Developing Craft Pedagogy for Older Adults in Care Settings

Abstract

Research has revealed that creative activities such as craft-making offer mental and physical stimulation and enable connection with the wider world. Engagement in making can enhance mood and help to preserve identity as an enabled and developing person. These factors are important for older adults and their well-being, especially for those who need extensive care. Notwithstanding the research findings, the opportunities provided by creative activities are not utilized to their full potential in care settings. This paper looks at the elements of appropriate craft pedagogy in this context. The pedagogy was created following the practices of action research during an international project, Handmade Well-being, with partners from Finland, the U.K., Austria, and Estonia. The pedagogical model was co-created iteratively during the project to reach the potential of enhancing well-being with craft activities. The role of the facilitator of creative activities is crucial. The starting point is to reflect one’s perception of older adults and design learning targets that are suitable for them. A good facilitator masters the topic of the activities and knows instructional methods. Knowing how to adapt the content and instructional approaches so they are suitable for participants is essential and requires knowledge of the special needs of the participants, such as dementia and limitations in physical abilities. All along, the facilitator needs to reflect critically on his/her own perceptions, beliefs and experiences to be able to develop and revise his/her practice.