WW projects for an older seniors group

[BobL]

I've decided to volunteer for a morning a week with a RSL Care group who take about half a dozen older male seniors to a local men's shed.
The group will be transported and managed by a couple of young female OTs and as none of them know anything about WW they need a "bloke" that can help/show the seniors with some low key/basic projects
Not having done this sort of thing before I'm wondering what sorts of things that might be worth tackling.
I'm told skill levels are limited and some will just like to watch and talk ?
Any ideas for projects will be appreciated

[Timless Timber]

Bob,

Maybe if you prepared ahead of time some 3 inch by 3 inch x 3 inch wooden blocks, and took a 2 inch forstner bit along, each could make a cube within a cube project with the drill press?

Something they can take away with them - to amuse themselves and others?

Cute female OTs you said?

Need a sidekick? :wink: :D

[BobL]

Thanks Shan. I haven't fully checked the situation out or got all the approvals etc for being a volunteer yet.
Likewise they haven decided if they like the look of me yet - I get to meet them in a couple of weeks.
Cheers

[BobL]

Well with some trepidation I have decided to take this on and I've now had three sessions with "the guys" and despite a lack of activities is has been most interesting.
I had to do 4 hours of training and get a police clearance - this is standard for volunteers in most areas involving people these days.

There are about a dozen fellas on the list but anywhere from about 4 to 8 come along to any one session.
Their ages range from 76 to 96.
They are all ex military and some have served in very interesting theatres of conflict like WWII New Guinea and Liberation of Holland, Korea and Malaya.
Most have had some sort of a stroke so some have severe speech problems and only 3 have the use of both hands and some are will only be to watch, but they are all intensely interested in technical things.
One guy built two houses from scratch in the 1940's and had an extensive workshop for many years - right through to one guy whose wife complained that even though he was able his wife always complained that he never did any handy work around the house.
Going to the local men's shed means going down to the basement in the care facility to a section of the centre's maintenance workshop where they have an area that is cordoned off so it is safe but provides access to some tables and hand tools.

So far I have been taking in half a dozen tools at a time and we have been talking about their use etc.
Of course this leads to lots of reminiscing etc
There is one OT on hand and several others involved with the group so I am not entirely on my own.

Next week we plan to tackle some cutting boards so I will pre-cut some for those that are unable and they can sand and finish these themselves.

It's a real challenge and patience will be at a bit of a premium - but it's only for one hour a week so it's no big deal.

[The Bleeder]

Ok Bob you've now started....I seems they are a nice bunch of blokes...and from your words you seem to be liking it.

Now for projects.

Was in a similar situation with a few retirees who's wives couldn't stand them being at home all day.

At that time I had two kids, one in day care and one in kindergarden and I was retrenched.

I was dong all the woodwork maintenace at the Day Care centre and basically it went from there.

The guys made blackboards, painting stands, pull along toys...building blocks....any thing made from wood. (They used my single garage workshop)

They also did the maintenance on the things that I brought home.

There faces always lit up when it was delivery time at the day care. Just seeing their work being used by the little terrors gave them a great amount of joy.

Yes there a lot of rules of what kids can have on things they play with but the day care centre helped me out there.

All in all it was an extremly rewarding time for both me and the 'Old Farts'.

[BobL]

Thanks Steve,

I'm not sure if I am at the "enjoyment" stage yet, but hopefully it will continue to grow on me.

Simple Toys for grandkids, or more likely great grand kids, sound like an option worth pursuing. I'll mention this to the OTs at the next gathering.

What I was hoping to avoid was too much homework on my part but if I keep things simple enough it should not take up too much time.

Cheers
Bob

[Sawdust Maker]

you have to be commended for taking this on

with great grandkids:
blocks are good - basic shape 64 x 64 x 32 and then multiples of that

or how about race cars - basic car shape with wheels added - van be sanded and painted

[crowie]

Yes Bob, for my money, simple wooden toys is the way to go...
from what I understand a good number of Men's Sheds do toys to donate to local hospitals, charities and the like....
The toymakers on the forum, I'm sure would all be willing to email you an old plan or two to put up for approval for the blokes to make....
Be very careful what you say and do concerning ''Occupational Therapist's'', as my wife of 34+yrs is an exceptional senior OT; they help develop "Skills for Living"...
Cheers, crowie

PS - The blokes sound like a top mob of blokes to spend time with; love to hear some of there life stories.....

[BobL]

Thanks Guys.



Be very careful what you say and do concerning ''Occupational Therapist's'', as my wife of 34+yrs is an exceptional senior OT; they help develop "Skills for Living"...

I've got nothing but good stuff to say about the one's I've met at the centre.
They are delight to work with and have impressive patience.

[BobL]

For the last nine months I have been demo-ing some basic woodwork at an RSL Care Centre facility here in Perth and thought some of you might be interested in some pics of what we do and have done.
We have made a variety of things from retsoring furniture to making cutting boards, puzzles, pencil cases, candle holders and garden signs.
Typically I cut up the wood to size and bring it in to the guys for assembly and finishing.

One of the projects was to restore this old chair.
Alan on the right painting the chair is a former naval engineer, he is very handy and has two good working hands but doesn't have the arm strength to use power tools
Charlie on the right is 96 years old and was in the liberation of Holland. He's wheel chair bound and about the only thing he can do is paint.

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=331097&stc=1

Mike paints a chair while Kev supervises.
Mike is ex-navy but does not come along much - too much like working he says.
Kev was in the air force. Having had a stroke couldn't do anything but he did like to watch and tell us what we were doing wrong. Unformtunately he passed away just recently.

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=331104&stc=1

Ron is a former talented carpenter and is also very handy and has fair hand strength in both hands so can use power tools
Here he is assembling some kit boxes for the centre.
http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=331102&stc=1

Here we are assembling some pencil cases and Ron is oiling them with Woodwipe.
The wood is scrap ply from a packing case.
We sand and the pre sealed them with some wood sealer, re-sand and then finish with wood wipe oil.
Oiling is easier than painting for the older guys that don't have much hand strength.

The assembly was a bit dodgy so I took the boxes home and evened them all up on my big belt sander.

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=331100&stc=1

John is ex-brit navy and has only one (weak hand). He can't do much but enjoyed putting the dowels into the holes of the Chinese checker like puzzle boards.

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=331099&stc=1

Every few weeks we break it up a bit. Here I ran a wood quiz. I brought in a few pieces of wood and they had to tell me what they were.

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=331103&stc=1

Below is what we have been doing for the Centre's fete coming up next week.
I cut the Banksia Pods and Birch logs and drilled the holes in the ends with a Forstner bit.
The guys sanded and sealed the ends.
The Banksias are sprayed with Poly, while the Birch is finished in rubbed beeswax melted into the wood with a hot air gun

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=331101&stc=1

Sorry the pics are not that good (mobile phone camera with dirty lens)
http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=331098&stc=1

[Glenn.Visca]

Well done Bob !!

I am sure its very rewarding to spend time with these gents ... perhaps a little frustrating at times ? ... But rewarding nonetheless.

[BobL]

Well done Bob !!
I am sure its very rewarding to spend time with these gents ... perhaps a little frustrating at times ? ... But rewarding nonetheless.

Thanks Glen, Yep it can be a bit frustrating but not as much as I thought it would be.
It's also a good reminder to what has to come to many of us. I just hope there is someone around that might be able to do that sort of thing for me if and when I reach that stage in life.

[BobL]

The RSL Care Aged Care facility in Menora, Wester Australia ,is looking for a volunteer to run their "Mens Shed" activity.
I have been doing this for the last 18 months but am about to move on to other things.

The Men’s Shed group runs on Tuesday morning for an hour in the basement area of the facility's maintenance workshop.
The group is small with numbers varying (4 - 8) from week to week.


Although he Group meets for an hour on Tuesdays the time can change this to suit the volunteer.

If you are interested in this then PM me and I can provide you with more details and contacts.
Some of the activities we have been doing are shown in the posts above.

[KBs PensNmore]

Hi Bob,
Even though I have nothing to do with where you are, I would like to personally thank you for your time and effort, in doing what a lot of people would think is a waste of time. I help out at our local day centre in a similar capacity, we have 3 members on a regular basis and sometimes 5 or 6 turn up, so I know what you go through.
Kryn

[BobL]

Thanks Kryn. I feel a bit guilty about leaving but I do need a break, and to try some other things, and who knows I may give it another go in the future.

[Robson Valley]

BobL: Thank you for your investment of time and energy.
The camaraderie and mental stimulation had to give a boost to everyone in your group.
Some people can talk the talk (all hat and no cattle), you walk the walk.