Improving the Aging Process and Intergenerational Relationships Through Quilting

The body’s physical and mental decline associated with aging varies from person to person, but common issues can be a decline in memory, difficulty learning new things and trouble focusing from one task to another.  Research shows that people who stay intellectually engaged are more likely to maintain their mental acuity.  Quilting has been done for years to provide warm blankets for families, but in the last few decades retirees have turned to quilting to help fill the time gap after retirement, to express creativity, and for the health benefits of relieving stress and increasing their social interaction.  Quilting has also been proven to help with the effects of aging since it is challenging, demands concentration and participants learn new skills.  The Jabez Quilt Seminar (JQS) is a state-wide quilting seminar held every January for the last 16 years.  The 5-day conference is planned and coordinated by an advisory council consisting of the Harlan County FCS Agent and eight others.  This past year 120 participants had the opportunity to attend 36 classes that were offered by instructors from across the country.  Attendees were challenged with quilt classes that improved their spatial reasoning, problem solving skills, hand-eye coordination, color coordination and provide opportunity to develop personal relationships.  As an added benefit we have learned that 25% of the attendees are family groups and use our conference to improve their intergenerational family relationships.  53% state that our conference provides a stress free opportunity to connect with each other.  47% stated that the program allowed them to strengthen family bonds through shared experiences and memories.   In a written evaluation, participants reported that 60% of the attendees will use the information to teach others estimating their reach of over 1800 additional people.  In addition when asked what the attendees would use their new skills for participants said they would use their new skills to reach the following audiences:

• Former and Current military through Quilts of Valor
• Children whose lives have been interrupted by tragedy
• Teach life skills to women in rehab centers
• Teach youth life skills
• Teach skills to federal prisoners