Calling All Crafters: Activity Mats Needed for Hospice Patients

Community Care Hospice is looking for crafters to make and donate activity mats for patients. Activity mats are comfort items for patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, as they can provide comfort or relief from feelings of anxiety, stress and restlessness.

“We get a lot of requests for activity mats,” said Jodi Howard, volunteer coordinator at Community Care Hospice. “Some patients find comfort with activity mats. They give patients something to do with their hands that is safe.”

Activity mats are rectangular cloth mats that can be placed in the laps of patients. They are typically the size of a placemat, and consist of different materials, textures, images and patterns. Add-on items are sewn onto the activity mats to engage and soothe patients who are in constant movement. Frequently used items sewn onto activity mats are zippers, ties, stuffed animals, Velcro and pockets. Crafters often include textured fabric on activity mats, such as corduroy, fringe or lace, for patients to run their hands across. 

The add-on items on activity mats are meant to be pulled apart, tied, zipped, touched and stroked. The repetitive motions of doing these activities can be comforting or soothing to patients who need to keep their hands moving and ease restlessness. Activity mats can be customized to specific patients’ hobbies and interests, like fishing, farming or gardening.

Community Care Hospice is accepting activity mats from smoke-free and pet-free environments. Contact the Volunteer Services department at 937.382.5400 for any questions or more information on how to make and donate activity mats.

Community Care Hospice, an affiliate of Ohio’s Hospice, is a not-for-profit organization founded in 2004 by a group of individuals whose mission is to provide superior hospice care to their community. Local professionals provide care for patients in a 10-county area surrounding Wilmington. Bereavement and grief support services also are provided to hospice families and to the community, including grief groups. Patients are cared for in their homes, and extended care and assisted living facilities. General inpatient care is available at Clinton Memorial Hospital, along with access to designated hospice beds at Highland District Hospital.