That s great idea because even the children could help. I can picture the face of an older person when they have a placemat with a child's "scribbles". Thanks so much to everyone, I was out of ideas and these are really helping me think again.

bags to put on walkers, I don't know what they are called but they lay over the arm of a recliner , a and hold remote control, glasses, a few kleenex. Go to the activity director and you will get a lot of ideas. Most nursing homes are very limited on $ for the activity dept. scraps, buttons, pipe cleaners,etc. Gerber now has puree foods in little plastic boxes just the right size for a variety of projects!

Novelty pillowcases. Just make sure its okay with staff.

little tote bags for toileteries. little baskets to put on the dining room tables to hold salt and pepper shakers, coffee creamers, and sugar packets. fabric Christmas decorations for the tree. Dog bone pillows. Ricesacks to heat in microwave.

This will take some sewing ability but oh so cute! My Dad had Parkinson so that last Christmas he was alive I made some 'shirt savers' (AKA adult bibs). One was white and put a 'button down' collar and "dress tie" on it. This was his favorite and he called it his "Sunday go to church bib". One I used an old sweatshirt and cut off the back. The front I machine embroidered a Kansas State PowerCat for the university my daugter (& other grandkids of his) graduated from. Another I went to the local thrift shop and found an old pair of striped overalls and made the front look like a plaid shirt under a pair of striped overalls. They were all very cute and he loved them. It took away the stigma that he needed to wear a bib at meals. For women one could make them to look like a frilly blouse, etc. FUN! Sue

My Girl Scouts used to make napkin rings once a month. They were simple, sometimes paper tubes cut and decorated, sometimes coloring pages cut out, sealed with clear contact paper and curled into a tube. But they enjoyed having something new every month.

If any of the residents are bed bound, perhaps some colorful mobiles. Lap blankets (about 3 ft square) are always nice and can be made by cutting a full size into 4 pieces and binding.

Fabric coasters. Scrappy baskets to hold their goodies. Flower pens. Fabric picture frames. Note cards with quilt blocks fused on.

Do you happen to have any pics of these??or even a link ?? this sounds so fun..My FIL is wheelchair bound and needs assistance eating so this would be a great idea for him and the rest of the residents..

wheelchair bags

big adult bibs

I just created a link for us to store the cool links for ideas


http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-65329-1.htm

Adult bibs free pattern here

http://www.laurassewingstudio.com/NL/060407/060407.html