Residents have an opportunity to revisit an old hobby or learn a new skill at more than a dozen senior living homes across Lawrence through Visiting Nurses Association’s Craft Corner.
Amid the glue, construction paper and puzzle pieces scattered around the table last Tuesday morning, a discussion and laughs ensue at Meadowlark Estates Gracious Retirement Living, 4430 Bauer Farm Drive.
Tuesday’s project: Use glue and fall-colored puzzle pieces to create a multi-dimensional pumpkin on a black background. Then top it off with green silk leaves.
“Mine kind of looks like an egg,” says one of the residents with a laugh while pairs of aged hands squeeze glue bottles and push puzzle pieces into place.
Those around the table respond with encouragement, including the guest who helps apply glue when an elder needs a steady hand’s assistance.
Isabel Warden, community outreach specialist for Visiting Nurses Association (VNA), drops in about every two weeks at each of a dozen Lawrence senior living homes and a respite group through Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging. Warden has grown the program launched by her predecessor, Andrea Bos, who now works for VNA as business development director.
Bos says Craft Corner appeals to various skill levels and tactile interests. Some past projects include painting, beading, decorating birdhouses, making jewelry with Shrinky Dinks, and creating clay stepping stones embellished with mosaic pieces.
Sylvia Martin sets puzzle pieces with hot glue. Martin says Craft Corner at Meadowlark provides time “to play.”
“I learned to paint with Q-tips,” Martin says. “I’ve always played with art all my life, but I love learning new things.”
For Charlene Winter, “just being social” and having art projects to hang on her door are her favorite aspects of Craft Corner.
“I’ve always enjoyed doing crafty things,” says Winter, who previously worked for VNA as a home health aide.
VNA staff work to inspire residents to keep using their hands through adaptable activities and to hone their creativity as they age, Bos says, but Craft Corner offers much more.
“Some patients don’t get a lot of visitors, and so when Isabel goes in there, they’re maybe the first visitor that they see, the first person from outside of the facility that they’ve talked to that day,” Bos says. “And so beyond just the visual arts that they’re doing, it’s also companionship.”
Meadowlark resident Maggie Avilla heaps praise on Warden, who is a 2019 graduate of Bishop Seabury Academy and grew up in Lawrence as a triplet.
“She’s a wonderful lady,” Avilla says. “Yeah, she’s always trying to help us.”
Warden returned to Lawrence after graduating in 2023 from William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, where she majored in public relations and theater. Warden says she believes she was put on earth to help people. Six months ago, she began work with VNA.
“I want to help my community, because that’s just something I believe, like at the end of our lives, all we have are the connections that we make with other people,” Warden says.
Warden’s favorite part of the job are the people she gets to work with, including “these lovely ladies here.” Men are welcome to join, too, although women typically fill the chairs during Craft Corner, Warden says.
“It’s just been so fulfilling, just to get to work with all the different people that I see,” she says.
VNA offers Craft Corner at no cost and operates on a shoestring budget. Most of the supplies and crafting tools are donated or purchased at deep discounts. Specialized art supplies such as loop scissors are needed because they require minimal pressure to close their blades.
VNA accepts arts and craft supplies as well as monetary donations. Those interested in donating can reach out to Andrea Bos by phone at 785-843-3738.
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Tricia Masenthin (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at tmasenthin (at) lawrencekstimes (dot) com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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