Crafting Tools for Seniors

By Anna Hazard

Introduction

Easy to make do-it-yourself crafts are a common hobby for many seniors, providing entertainment as well as a good source of decorations & potential gifts at the same time. However, many crafts require at least a basic level of hand strength & dexterity to be able to accomplish the common tasks of gluing/pasting, cutting, painting, or otherwise holding a writing instrument.
 
For those seniors that may have arthritis, essential tremor, or other hand issues there are available a variety of more suitable art supplies. These tools tend to be advertised as ergonomic, are child appropriate, or have simple designs that are easy to use for all ages. In addition there are some art tools or add-ons (such as grips) that have been specifically designed for the use of people with hand difficulties.
 
Below you can find a selection of widely available crafting materials & tools of various brands & manufacturers that are suitable for use by seniors & others who require more ergonomic designs. While many items are available at local grocery, household, or hobby stores, some may require purchasing from specific art & paint shops or through ableware & health businesses.

Tools

Scissors

• Some of the features in scissors that would be beneficial for seniors, children, as well as those with arthritis or other hand strength issues include spring loaded blades that are easy to manipulate and open or close with minimal pressure, soft grip handles, and self opening scissors that return to the 'open' position automatically.
• In addition, large open handles with wide levers are ideal for users with swollen joints. Other adaptive or ergonomic scissors with wide handles that further stabilize the grip can also be helpful as well as scissors with mounted magnifying glasses for those who may have failing eye sight.
• Table-mounted push down spring loaded scissors or battery operated scissors can be used by those with particularly pronounced hand dexterity or strength issues. Otherwise handheld scissors should always be lightweight to make their handling easier.
• Freedom Distributors | Rehab Mart | Arthritis Foundation | Arthritis Supplies | Special Needs Stop | Enabling Devices | Wrightstuff | Especial Needs | Therapy Shoppe

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Paint Brush

• For seniors or others with hand issues, look for paintbrushes that have thick, wide handles particularly those that are rounded, bulbous, or shaped like an egg as these are the easiest shapes to grip within a palm. These types of brushes tend to be sold as "ergonomic" or are specially targetted to those with grip difficulties.
• Handles that have soft padding can also make gripping less painful for those with condition such as arthritis. Many types of handles designed for use by kids are also suitable for seniors.
• Otherwise normal paintbrushes can be adapted using special grips meant to be placed around the handles. There are both universal grips meant to be used on any thin handles such as paintbrushes, pens, pencils, toothbrushes (these kinds are usually found in medical shops specifically targeted for arthritis or adaptive wear) as well as specialized grips meant specifically for paint brushes (usually found at art & paint shops).
• Do-It-Yourself grips can also be cobbled together using other household items such as tennis balls, foam tubes, padded twist ties (often used for curling hair), and thimbles.
• Paint Brushes: Jackson's Art | Dick Blick | Arthritis Supplies
• Paint Brush Grips :  Maddak |  Especial Needs | Rehab Mart | Amazon.com
• DIY Grips : Wet Canvas | Painters Online | Tetra Society

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Glue

• Glue is a staple of arts & crafts, particularly for those who lack the hand flexibility or strength for stitching, sewing, or using an iron for heatbonding. Of the many varieties of glue, paste, and adhesives available, certain ones are easier to handle by seniors or others with hand dexterity issues.
• In particular, glue bottles should have wide bulbous bodies that easy to grip and squeeze. Seniors may find adhesives within a tube easier to manipulate, especially if adapted  tube squeezers have been applies.
• For those who have trouble squeezing at all, these are many types of glues that come in wide mouthed jars, tubs, or bins where a sponge, brush, or other implement can be easily dipped within. Glue pumps & specialized glue pots or jars can also be used for easier access & application of liquid glues.
• Glue sticks are another style that are easy to grasp within a hand and which tend to produce less mess than liquid varieties.
• For those who wish to have the quick bonding experience of hot glue, here are a sampling of glue guns that have come recommended by users with arthritis.
• Squeeze Bottles: Mono Glue | Rockler | B&K Lab | Uxcell | Quilled Creations
• Tubes:  Beacon | Gorilla | E6000 | Uhu
• Tube Squeezers: Maddak | Artist Supply Source | Easy Comforts | Dick Blick
• Wide Mouth : Mod Podge | Aleene's | Americana | Yes! Paste
• Stick: Elmer's |  Uhu | Baker Ross | Pritt | Staples | Prang
• Glue Guns : Amdai | Surebonder | Bernz-o-matic
• Glue Pump: Elmer's Glue Pump | IGlue | Educational Colours
• Glue Pots & Jars : Colorations | Naimies | ATB | Zelikovitz | Ed Colours

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Sponges

• Sponges are particularly helpful for those who have trouble gripping narrower tools such as brushes & pens or who may have trouble using normal squeeze bottles or tubes of glue. In these cases paint & glue can be applied using handheld sponges instead which are softer and easier on hand muscles.
• Sponges come in a variety of shapes & sizes and thus it should be possible to find the specific type of sponge that best compliments your senior's handgrip. Art sponges meant specifically for these types of craft activities can be found at various art & crafts stores. Ergonomic make-up application sponges can also be subbed in due to their easy gripping capabilities, but overall they tend to be more expensive than other types of sponges.
• Michael's | Amazon.com | KISS | Dick Blick | Walmart

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Jumbo Chalk, Markers, & Other Coloring Instruments

• Thick bodied & jumbo sized art supplies tend to be easier to grip for those who have arthritis or other hand flexibility issues. Many items originally meant for toddlers & children with their overall weaker handgrips compared to adults can also be beneficial.
• In addition, some art supplies are available in ergonomically designed varieties to better fit within the shape of the hand or have specific holders available to make gripping easier. Chalkholders for both normal sized & jumbo sidewalk chalk are particularly popular and come in ergonomic household varieties, as well as versions meant for kids or for professional work use.
• If further control is needed, universal arthritis grips meant for thin handles can be applied to normal sized art supplies.
• Chalk : Prang | Yoobi | Melissa & Doug | Westco | Ready2Learn |
• Chalk Holders: Prym | Yoobi | Melissa & Doug | Kapro
• Markers: Faber Castell | PenAgain | Monami [1, 2] | Dri-Mark [1, 2, 3] | Artline [1, 2, 3] | Do-a-Dot
• Crayons: Ooly | Wesco | Faber Castell [1, 2, 3] | Studio Skinky | Lyra | Sargent Art | Crayola [1, 2]
• Colored Pencils: Yoobi | Faber Castell [1, 2, 3] | Stabilo | Prang | Staedtler | Koh-i-noor | Lyra [1, 2]
• Highlighters: Yoobi | Dri-Mark | Monami [1, 2] | PenAgain | Stabilo Boss

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Special Grip Pens & Pencils

• For people with hand dexterity or strength issues, thick bodied writing instruments with ergonomically shaped designs are easiest to grip. Many of these have cushioned surfaces with raised rubber patterns to make gripping even easier and are explicitly marketed as "grippers" or "ergonomic".
• Some pens have been specifically designed for arthritis sufferers or other patients with hand issues. These tend to be shaped like rings or are otherwise able to be wrapped around the finger or hand like a bracelet. Other designs include "V" shaped pens or ones that resemble pen stands/holders which provide greater stability while writing.
• Otherwise, separately sold grips can be added to pens, pencils, and other normal writing instruments. These grips can be triangular, indented & shaped to the curve of a finger, or circular & bulbous.  Grips specifically meant for those with arthritis tend to be soft, rubbery, & bulbous requiring less of the hand to be closed during use or are shaped like rings & bracelets (similar in shape to the arthritis pens)
• Pen Again | Dick Blick | Amazon.com | Arthritis Supplies | Staples (Dr. Grip) | Rehab Mart | The Writing Pen Store | Wright Stuff [1, 2] | Maddak