Older Adults Find Comfort in Woodworking During Pandemic

Hobbies are in vogue for Chicagoans from all walks of life with more downtime than usual due to COVID-19. For seniors Arlee Bennett and Mandy Stewart, the woodshop at Oak Trace retirement community in Downers Grove has been their solace. For three hours each afternoon, the two women get together to craft intricate decor and share in the joys of carpentry.

“We’re currently making all kinds of things for fall and the holidays,” explained Bennett, who prides herself on being crafty. “It’s been so much fun to spend time in the shop. Due to COVID-19, you’re limited in where you can go and what you can do, so it’s great to have this as an outlet for creativity.”

“I had a woodshop at my house before moving to Oak Trace,” noted Stewart, who has been woodworking since the mid-‘90s and loves repurposing items like Coke cans in her creations. “It’s a great way to sharpen your mind and stay creative. I love that it gets us out of our residences to contribute our time to something meaningful.”

Before they took up the endeavor, the woodshop was a male-dominated space. However, Bennett and Stewart have proven they are more than capable of keeping up with the boys. They relish the opportunity to be productive and have grown inseparable from working together. When they aren’t busy wielding hammers and saws, you can find them strolling through the grounds at Oak Trace on socially distanced walks.

“They’ve never really had women in the woodshop before us,” said Bennett. “This is the first time, so everyone is talking about it, and they love coming to see what we’re making. It’s really nice, and working with and getting to know Mandy has been very enjoyable.”

The ladies’ fervor for woodworking epitomizes the way of life at Oak Trace, where residents are encouraged to stay active and explore new opportunities. The National Institute on Aging reports that older adults who are involved in hobbies have a lower risk for dementia, are happier and live longer.

As Stewart described it, “Moving here six months ago was the best decision. There’s so much to keep you busy, and you learn a lot from other residents. It’s a whole new way of approaching retirement.”

Paula Banno, Oak Trace’s director of lifestyle, agreed.

“Retirement is for living out your lifelong passions and having time to discover new ones,” she said. “We’re all about exploring new adventures, be it woodworking or something else. The downtime during COVID-19 has been the perfect opportunity to become completely absorbed into a hobby or project.”

It’s a philosophy that’s widely appreciated by residents, especially Bennett and Stewart, who foresee woodworking well beyond the pandemic.

“It’s plain fun,” said Bennett. “The sky’s the limit on what you can make with wood. Plus, the woodshop is an ideal place to work because all the tools and supplies you need are already there.”