10 Easy & Simple Halloween Crafts For Seniors

Halloween is such a fun holiday for kids. But for seniors, Halloween doesn’t always have to include creepy, scary creatures and overly large candy bars. In fact, for your senior loved one, there are slow and easy DIY ideas they can complete to create their own Halloween holiday fun. These simple Halloween crafts are great for anybody with limited mobility because they only require a few basic supplies.

What Do These Crafts Provide To Seniors?

But before we move forward, let’s talk about how these DIY crafts can make your senior loved one feel special and important. With scary movies, spooky decorations, and haunted houses, Halloween often causes seniors to become mystified by their surroundings. But with these simple crafts, your senior loved one can feel more at ease and perhaps even more involved with the holiday festivities.

In addition to helping seniors feel closer to the holiday, these easy DIY craft ideas are also a great way to stay active throughout the cooling months.

Also, making some crafts will help keep senior mental health in check. Crafting is a great stress buster and has strong therapeutic value. So with a little creativity, seniors can find ways to relax and feel good about themselves.

Some of the crafts below can be made quickly, while others take quite some time, but all are worth it once complete. Make sure to try them out so your senior loved one will feel as happy as you are!

10 Easy & Simple Halloween Crafts For Seniors

1. Paper Ghost Garlands

While it is intended for kids, seniors can also make their own paper ghost garland. This simple Halloween craft is a great way to create divinity around the Halloween season. In addition, making these paper ghost garlands will give your senior loved one some much-needed exercise. Not only does it help keep them active, but it will also keep them busy. The best ideas for seniors don’t need to be complicated. Paper ghost garlands are simple and easy enough for seniors to make with some creativity.

Supplies Needed:

• Butcher paper or freezer paper
• Marking pen
• Scissors

After finishing, you can ask your loved one to help you hang the paper ghost garlands around your home. It can be placed on doors, windows, and other hallways and even hanging from trees. For complete instructions, you may visit Alpha Mom.

2. Mummy Candy Cans

For your senior loved one, a mummy candy can is another fun Halloween craft they can make. While it provides that extra bit of Halloween spirit, it may need time to complete. However, the end product will definitely be worth the extra time put into it. Since this activity requires pliers, make sure that all cans are prepped for older adults before starting and that no metal bits are sticking out. 

Supplies Needed:

• Clean and empty tin can
• Cheesecloth
• Hot glue gun
• Pliers
• Scissors
• Black spray paint (matte or semi-gloss)

The little complexity of making this craft will help keep your senior loved one inspired and excited. HGTV will provide you the step by step instructions for this craft.

3. Spider Web Craft

While creating a spider web may seem intimidating to some, it’s pretty easy to make. And since it’s so versatile, your senior loved one can make multiple spiderwebs for the whole family. This is an ideal craft for older adults because it requires minimal mobility and will keep them busy for several hours. Also, the materials needed for a spider web are extremely basic and easy to find. You can have your senior parent make this craft in no time!

Supplies Needed:

• White coffee filter – the basket kind, not the cone kind
• Glue stick
• Scissors
• Black felt or construction paper for the spiders

This craft is perfect for window decoration, bedroom doors, or any dark space. For more instructions on how you can make this spider web craft, you may visit Artful Parent.

4. Halloween Yarn Pumpkins

Your elderly loved one can create an easy yarn pumpkin. This craft is perfect for simple mobility and will keep them busy for a few hours. But what’s best about this craft is that you can customize it by making it a little bigger or smaller. With just some basic craft supplies, your senior loved one can make their own yarn pumpkin decorations to brighten up the home.

Supplies Needed:

• Balloon
• Orange yarn (but you may use any color if you like)
• Pipe cleaners
• White glue
• Scissors
• Plastic fork
• Tape measure

These yarn pumpkins are a cute decoration that you can use in the living room or dining room on Halloween night. One Little Project will provide clear instructions to make this craft.

5. Tea Light Pumpkins

Tea Light Pumpkins require some time to set up; it’s recommended to do them a few days before the holiday. These pumpkins are little orange flameless tea lights that can provide that extra spookiness to the home. They are adorable and a fun craft to make! 

Supplies Needed:

• Orange flameless tea light
• Miniature popsicle sticks
• Green pipe cleaners
• Scissors
• Black adhesive gemstones
• Glue gun or tacky glue

If all is set, turn on the lights and watch these pumpkins come to life. Put them in a tiny cellophane bag and hand them as Do it Yourself Halloween gifts. If you want a complete guide on making these little ghosts, visit Smart School House.

6. Jack-O-Lantern

This is one of the best traditional crafts for senior citizens. With this, you can have your senior loved one make festive and spooky pumpkins that are perfect for any Halloween décor. After your senior loved one is done, display them on the mantel or kitchen table!

Supplies Needed:1 Pumpkin

• Medium Knife
• Medium Serving Spoon 
• Small Knife
• Newspaper
• Dry Erase Marker
• Medium bowl
• Candle
• Lighter

The process seems daunting for seniors with limited mobility, so make sure to be with them through the entire process. For more instructive information on how to make these crafts, you may visit Instructables.

7. Tin Can Ghost Windsock

If you are on a budget but want to create a unique décor, this is what you need. This windsock looks absolutely amazing and is also economical, making it one of the best Halloween activities for seniors. 

Supplies Needed:

• Large Tin Can (clean and label removed)
• White Spray Paint
• Black Craft Paint
• Hammer
• White Ribbon
• Hot Glue Gun
• Paperclip
• Twine 

This may take a lot of work based on the materials needed, but it is absolutely worth it. This craft will help your senior loved one get some physical activity. In addition, they will have fun and enjoy the process of creating this craft. For more details on how to make this windsock, visit Chicken Scratch NY.

8. No Sew Shirt Sleeve Pumpkins

This is another great alternative if you don’t want to bother purchasing a pumpkin for Halloween. These No Sew Shirt Sleeve Pumpkins are made using a long-sleeved shirt with some twine and artificial leaves. It is a great Halloween pumpkin craft you can display in a room or a common area and one of the most fun Halloween crafts for seniors.

Supplies Needed:

• An old long-sleeved shirt (fall colors looks ideal)
• Twine
• Pillow stuffing
• Rubber bands
• Scissors
• Glue
• Pencils

Your elderly loved one will have some fun doing this craft, and you will enjoy it too! For more details, you can visit Home In The Finger Lakes.

9. DIY Halloween Candy Jar

This craft is always a hit among both seniors and kids! Made using a medium-sized terracotta pot and small bowl, this candy jar is an excellent spot for stashing candy corn and other treats. 

Supplies Needed:

• A mason jar lid
• 3″ terra cotta pot
• Black Krylon Short Cuts Spray Paint
• Plastic toy pig (or other animals)
• Plastic bowl

It is advisable to start this craft a few days early in order for your senior loved one to have enough time to complete it. For more information about how to do this DIY Halloween Candy Jar, you may visit Soap Deli News. 

10. DIY Witch Hat Button Craft

This craft is an excellent Halloween activity for seniors. In addition, it is also quite easy and can be done at home with minimal tools. 

Supplies Needed:

• Buttons (red, blue, and black work best)
• Glue Gun
• Cardboard 

This Witch Hat Button Craft is one of the easiest Halloween crafts your senior loved one can make! It is easy to assemble, and it requires just some basic materials.

Other Activities Seniors Can Do On Halloween

Once you are done with the crafts above, you can do other activities that your senior loved one might enjoy. For example, 

Great Indoor Activities for seniors:

1. Playing board games (e.g., monopoly), 
2. Cards or board puzzles
3. Watching television together.

Great Outdoor Activities for seniors:

1. Enjoying the weather around Halloween with a bonfire or more
2. Enjoying an outdoor cookout with family and friends
3. Hanging ghost decorations in your yard/parking lot/community center/church.

Great Evening Activities for seniors:

1. Sharing scary stories
2. Costume Contest

Final Thoughts

Handling the trick-and-treaters or having your senior loved one do crafts is a lot of fun. Senior citizens are some of the most creative people in the world and can create intricate home decorations. Make sure to make this Halloween a memorable one for them by offering some of these great crafts!

Here at Serenity Senior Care, we understand that keeping your loved one occupied is not always easy, but with these 10 excellent crafts and activities, you can keep your loved one busy, active, and safe at home. We hope you enjoyed reading this article and found it useful. Leave us a comment below or send us a message if you have any questions! We wish your senior loved one a very Happy Halloween! Take care!