Scrapbooking is a popular crafting pastime. People who scrapbook create lovely picture albums filled with family memories that are accented by creative touches, such as decorative papers, stickers, or memorabilia from an event, like tickets or luggage tags. It’s a relatively inexpensive hobby to take on since the supplies consist of adhesives, papers, stickers, small embellishments, and an album. You already have the photographs—and they’re probably sitting around in boxes or stuck into plain albums. Need more reasons to give scrapbooking with your mom a try? Here are 5 reasons you should scrapbook with your mom.
#1 Almost Anyone Can Scrapbook
Scrapbooking doesn’t require the crafter to be able to stand or have great strength, so people with limited mobility can participate. Even those with cognitive issues, such as memory loss, can scrapbook with a little help from a senior care provider or family caregiver. Even if your parent has problems with their hands, such as arthritis, they can still participate in scrapbooking by choosing pictures and decorative papers or by suggesting the placement of items.
#2 Scrapbooking Creates Memories
When you scrapbook, not only are you literally creating a book of memories, but you’ll be creating memories of the time you spend making the book with your mom. Looking through old photographs may prompt your mom to share memories and gives you the opportunity to ask her questions about her younger years.
#3 Scrapbooking Relieves Stress and Anxiety
When people are engaged in scrapbooking, they are engaged in what they are doing to an extent that is similar to meditation. Scrapbooking keeps the person’s attention focused so that they cannot think about the things that worry them. Researchers believe that the repetitive motions involved in many types of crafting calm the body’s fight or flight responses, which relieves feelings of stress and anxiety.
#4 Scrapbooking Reduces Depression
Scrapbooking is fun, which means that it stimulates the brain’s pleasure center. So, when a person is enjoying scrapbooking, their brain releases dopamine—the body’s natural anti-depressant. In addition, when a person shares what they’ve made with others and receives compliments, the compliments also boost their mood.
#5 Scrapbooking May Hold Off Dementia
Although there isn’t substantial research information specifically related to crafting’s effects on the brain, scientists believe that participating in activities that stimulate a person’s intellect can help slow the onset of dementia. One study that looked at how leisure activities impact the brain suggested that people who do things like play games, read, or craft may reduce their risks for mild cognitive problems by up to 50%.
The bottom line is that scrapbooking could not only be a great way for you to spend some time with your mom, it might also improve her health. Because scrapbooking is a hobby that is compatible with most ability levels, your mom can do it even if she needs a little help from you or her senior care provider. And, she’ll enjoy sharing her creations with family members and friends.
If you or an aging family member are considering hiring senior care in Roswell, GA, please contact the caring staff at Caring Companions of Atlanta 470-514-5954 .
We provide quality non-medical services to our clients in their homes or in a facility if that’s where they live. Our staff is available for care plans for extensive care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or as little as 4 hours per visit. Reach out to us, and one of our outstanding administrative staff will meet with potential clients to assist them and their families in designing an effective, personal plan of care.
Sources
http://www.healthywomen.org/content/blog-entry/soothing-benefits-scrapbooking
http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/25/health/brain-crafting-benefits/