Calling All Crafters: Activity Mats Needed for Hospice Patients

Ohio’s Hospice and its affiliates are 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.

“Activity mats are a frequently requested by families and our Care team,” said Amy LeVan, director of Volunteer Services at Ohio’s Hospice. “Our patients really enjoy them. The Care team sees the value in these handmade items and how they increase the quality of life for our patients.”

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. 

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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.

Ohio’s Hospice is accepting activity mats from smoke-free and pet-free environments. Contact the Volunteer Services department at 937.573.2111 for any questions or more information on how to make and donate activity mats.

Ohio’s Hospice is a partnership of mission-driven, not-for-profit hospices in Ohio committed to a shared vision of strengthening and preserving community-based hospices. Members of Ohio’s Hospice share the values of serving each patient in an atmosphere of hospitality, respect and caring; attending to the social, physical and spiritual needs of each person we are privileged to serve; preserving and enhancing patient dignity; celebrating the life of each individual we serve; and reducing unnecessary suffering in the communities we serve. 

Affiliates of Ohio’s Hospice include: Community Care Hospice, Hospice of Central Ohio, Ohio’s Community Mercy Hospice, Ohio’s Hospice at United Church Homes, Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare, Ohio’s Hospice Loving Care, Ohio’s Hospice of Butler & Warren Counties, Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton, Ohio’s Hospice of Fayette County and Ohio’s Hospice of Miami County.