I am helping in the hosptal in the long term care, and I was asked to do some crafts with the ladies each week. I am having a bit of a hard time finding ones that are possible for the ladies to do but also not too kidish. Does anybody have any good ideas?
What about crochet or cross stich projects? Not to be stereotypical but a lot of elderly women know how to sew. Maybe you could even do a quilting circle. That would keep them occupied for a while. Another idea would be to have them make jewelry. You could supply pretty beads and other items so they can make jewelry. This way they can maybe make a necklace one week and then maybe a bracelet the next. What about a cooking project? Do you have access to a kitchen? You could get them together to make cookies or something simple like that, or even give them small cakes to decorate. Uhhh....scrapbooking? That's about all I can come up with right now. HTH. Good luck!
This is a hard one. My grandma was into crafts alot. It kind of runs in the family. Anyway my grandma was a great cook and baked all the time. She did sewing and all sorts of crafts. From plastic canvas to jewery. Beautiful work. But arthritis kicked in. And in a big way. She can't stand anymore she has it really bad in her back. Her eyes are failing (cateracts sp) So some of her later work she couldn't see so well. And like you said you don't want it to be to babyish. My Grandma would be offended. My grandma couldn't see to thread her needle and would call the nurses all the time to thread her needle to do her plastic canvas. She is in a nursing home where my Aunt works. And my aunt would get mad everytime she would have to go help her. So she would buy the things for my G-ma. So for Christmas my mom would. She is also a crafty person. It caused all kind of problems. My G-Ma doesn't feel useful unless she is doing something with her hands. So with supervision I believe they can do alot of crafts. But there bodies may limit what they can do. Can you ask them what they like to do and go from there. Maybe talk to the nurses and see what capabilties they have. Like sight and Pain from arthritis. But what ever you chose will be very helpful to them. They will love it. Good Luck and I am glad you can take your time to help the long term people. I thank you.
I am sorry to hear about your grandma kaychristensen! It is always hard to see our loved ones grow older and not be able to do some of the things that they enjoy. And, I am sorry to hear of the problems it caused. 
I am glad though that she has such a caring family... too many don't have anyone and it makes me sad. I just pray that I will be able to help bring some light into their lives...
What about making picture frames, making some small candies, puzzles, painting some pottery. Or you could ask them what is their favorite recipe and down the road print them all off and bind them as a small recipe book. (ok maybe the last one won't work)
I'm not in a nursing home or a hospital, but I'm getting there! I love crafts too, and am finding the number of things that I can do narrowing all the time.
What about taking cookies or cupcakes (they don't even have to be homemade) and some icing (in decorating bags) for them to decorate them, then they could eat their creations for dessert.
Maybe they could do the embroidery on plastic canvas with that plastic thread, that would eliminate threading a needle, and it comes in lots of colors.
A little tip, anything that I can do, I can't do it for extended periods of time...my cake decorating has to be done in stages of short time spans. Janice
flower arranging
simple woodcrafts (staining, tole painting, stenciling)
tapestry work...appliqué work (think like decorative
banners for center or for a church)
sewing/making linens, albs, etc. for churches
decoupage collages (get family photos and have at it)
shadow boxes featuring family photos and small keepsakes
watercolor/acrylic painting.
decorate flower pots and then make cookie bouquets
window sill gardening (small flowers and herbs)
making walker "aprons" -- little bags that velcro to front of walker and have multiple pockets to hold stuff and maybe even a zipper/velcro closed compartment
(these can also be adapted for wheelchairs)
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