The aim of this practice-based thesis was to find out if a handicraft project that lasts over a week can be implemented in a sheltered accommodation. This work was commissioned by Mäntykoto sheltered accommodation, in Hyvinkää. There are about 120 residents in Mäntykoto and the activity was also arranged for nonresidential day activity clients. The author implemented her work placement in Mäntykoto, and it turned out that no activities had ever been organized for the elderly people as a continuous process.

The aim of the practice-based part of the thesis was to handicraft a tapestry for the cafeteria wall together with the residents and clients and guided by the instructor. Needle felting was chosen as the method and as the material sheep wool. The project involved using all senses in a creative way and the aim was also to increase social interaction between the residents and clients.

The underlying theoretical background was Therapeutic Thematic Arts Programming method (TTAP), which is developed by Linda Levine Madori. The method utilizes art and arouses creativity in care and rehabilitation of elderly people. As the research methods were used thematic interview and observation.

The output of the handicraft project was a finished tapestry that represents a bough of a pine tree. This Bachelor's thesis showed that an interesting and memorable project can be created when all of our senses are used. In future it would be important that activities refreshing senses and promoting social contacts would be arranged in Mäntykoto regularly.