LHSC Recreation Therapist, Deb Lines (left) receives a new delivery of donated fidget aprons and twiddle muffs from Janet Clarke on behalf of the Huron Fidget Makers
January 26, 2026
Over the last three years, London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), has been fortunate to receive over 250 donated hand-sewn fidget aprons and twiddle muffs from the Huron Fidget Makers – helping us to expand on our commitment to delivering whole person care to patients who are at-risk of physical or mental decline while they are in our care.
For more than a decade now, the Huron Fidget Makers, a dedicated team of volunteers led by Janet Clarke, have been sewing and donating specially designed items called fidget aprons and twiddle muffs. These items provide sensory stimulation and engage patients in a safe way that allows them to keep their hands and minds busy while offering a cozy feeling. The team works thoughtfully in designing each apron or muff. Items are carefully selected and designed to ensure variety in textures and tasks that might provide comfort and stimulation.
Janet first had the idea of making fidget aprons after reading a book from the library in which one of the characters dropped their father off at the nursing home where he was content with his fidget apron. Curious as a sewer, she went to a nursing home in Hensall, Ontario to see what these items looked like in person.
“The one they had was purchased from the U.S. and it was very expensive,” recalls Janet. “I thought, I could make this and it became the blueprint for me.”
What started out of curiosity and began as a small library-based project, has grown to a monthly gathering of 15 to 20 fidget makers and a take home kit program for those who want to support the initiative but are unable to join the in-person events that take place monthly in Exeter, Ontario. The vibe of the group is community and the idea that people can come together, have some coffee and do some good.
For LHSC, the fidget aprons and twiddle muffs have been making a meaningful difference in helping to prevent functional decline in patients who are at-risk while in hospital.
“There is so much value in finding those activities for patients that stimulate the mind, provide comfort, and break up what can be a very monotonous day,” says Deb Lines, Recreation Therapist at LHSC. “Fidget aprons and twiddle muffs are a tool we reach for often, and because we are fortunate to have been gifted so many with varying colours, patterns, textures, and activities like zippers, pockets, and buttons, we do our best to find one that we know will resonate with the individual patient. The provision of comfort can make a big difference in a patient's care and overall health as a whole person. These tools can help to create an environment that feels safe and allow for a calmer mind.”
In addition to generously giving to LHSC, Janet and her volunteer team have donated more than 2,000 of these goods across southwestern Ontario, including several long-term care homes in Huron and Perth. More information about the Fidget Makers and their monthly meetings can be obtained by contacting the Exeter branch of the Huron County Library. For those who may be interested in supporting the group’s initiative, they accept both monetary and gift-in-kind donations of base fabric, grommets and other items at local Huron County Library branches.