Calling All Crafters: Activity Mats Needed for Hospice Patients

Ohio’s Hospice of Fayette County 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 Ohio’s Hospice of Fayette County. “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.

Ohio’s Hospice of Fayette County 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.

Ohio’s Hospice of Fayette County, an affiliate of Ohio’s Hospice, was founded in 1987 as a community hospice to affirm life and provide comfort, symptom management and support in physical, mental and spiritual aspects when there is a life-limiting illness. Committed to respecting and empowering individuals so they remain active in their decision-making and personal choices, Ohio’s Hospice of Fayette County earned accreditation from The Joint Commission in 2014. It was selected in 2016, 2017 and 2020 for the prestigious Hospice Honors program of HEALTHCAREfirst and Deyta Analytics, recognizing hospices providing the highest level of quality as measured from the caregiver’s point of view.