If there’s one thing that most elderly people love, it is the art of sewing. After all, their parents have taught them to sew at an early age, especially the females who are expected to master the skill throughout their lives.
If you want to put a smile on your elderly loved one, you may want to give him or her a sewing machine. Not just any ordinary sewing machine, but something that best fits an elderly. You may be wondering, “Is there such a thing?” Of course, there is! In this article, we will delve into the various considerations you should keep in mind to purchase the best sewing machine for your elderly loved one.
What is the primary consideration?
For elderly people, they will usually opt for a sewing machine similar to a previously owned model, that is if they actually used a sewing machine. As much as possible, they want the simplest type of machine. Elders have learned most of their sewing skills from mechanical sewing machines that only performed straight and zigzag stitches.
Elderly people are retired, but that does not mean they can still enjoy all the things they used to do back in the day. In fact, they are still active to do recreational activities that they were not able to do because they were busy building careers and raising families.
So, the first consideration is to find a sewing machine that your elderly loved one is accustomed to using. If your loved one has experience with previous models, the better. Just focus on the brand to lower your options. Usually, old machines do not include modern, computerized features but are easily operated with the help of few gears and levers.
Other considerations to remember
More often than not, elderly people have trouble with doing simple, daily tasks. In fact, a mild physical condition may appear and make it hard for your loved one to operate a foot pedal or locate the sewing location.
Let’s discuss the following common issues elderly people experience:
Does he/she have poor vision?
One of the most common elderly health issues is visual impairment. And it is not something to be ashamed of, because it is scientifically-proven that our eyesight worsens as we age. If your elderly loved one has poor vision, he or she might struggle to put the thread into a tiny hole. If that’s the case, you may want to consider the Janome Jem Gold 660, as this sewing machine comes with a simple system that automatically puts the thread in the needle hole.
Can he/she operate a foot-pedal?
Sewing usually comes with foot work, because you need to control the machine by foot. And keeping a steady pressure can be tough for your elderly loved one, making him/her more prone to cramping. If this is your main concern, the Brother Laura Ashley CX155LA may be the perfect choice for you. It is a sewing machine that can be operated without a pedal.
Do his/her hands often shake?
Many elderly people, especially those who have Parkinson’s disease have hand tremors. If this happens to your elderly loved one, you will have to observe how sever it is, and if it can be easily controlled.
Depending on the severity of your loved one’s condition, most people can still hold their hands still when rested on a surface. Much like he/she can do it on a machine.
If everything looks fine, then your elderly loved one will not encounter any trouble operating a sewing machine.
What is your budget?
Sure, you may have an ideal sewing machine in mind, but does its price tag exceed your budget? Well-known brands such as Brother, Singer, etc. have simple models available at much cheaper prices. They do not have lots of advanced features and settings, which can be a good thing to a traditional elderly, but can be confusing to a handicapped elderly.
If you are short on budget, you can just opt to have your elderly loved one’s old sewing machine repaired and updated through a local repair shop. If it’s impossible to fix, then maybe just opt for a high-quality yet affordable sewing machine that fits your elderly loved one’s needs and wants.