/p>>an article of Patricia Ruiz Calleja,
Technician in auxiliary nursing care,
specialized in social accompaniment and care of the elderly
The labor therapy one of the therapies that increases the self confidence and self esteemfavoring the functional and cognitive activity. Thus, it offers numerous benefits for the health of our elders: it prevents cognitive deterioration, delays the aging process, keeping them active, delays arthritis-deformity processes in the hands and psychomotor development…
It is a method of occupational therapy through the creation and realization of creative tasks and crafts that are very numerous, but the best known are: Petit point paintings (half cross stitch) and cross stitch; manufacture of woolen scarves, rugs, hats and socks; creation of decorative wooden boxes with paint; collage and creative drawing; embroidery on cloth; macrame; decopatch; furniture restoration, etc.
your practice helps alleviate loneliness of those people who are alone at home, in addition to integrating them into our society and being a therapeutic leisure for them. Older people can start in the creative world: in civic centers, retiree associations, adult centers, craft and wool stores that offer courses and workshops.
As soon as they are trained, in one or more of these tasks, they then take initiatives autonomously such as collaboration in solidarity markets or collaboration in solidarity causes. This fact being very favorable for the self-esteemto improve the quality of life and feel useful.
It is a means through which we enhance the functional capacity to keep them active and active. Each craft and work is adapted to needs so that each one can develop them successfully. In addition, these tasks can be individual or in organized groups, so in the latter case, interaction with others and teamwork is essential. And it always has an end: many times they are decorative elements, other times they are gifts for loved ones and others have a charitable purpose.