What about knotting? Doing different knots out of different colored yarn/rope, etc., and then gluing them to cardboard in a small frame, for them to hang up in their rooms.

Making things with antlers? candlesticks, lamps, etc.

punched tin? anything- lampshades, candle holders, etc.

that;s all i've got for now.
Angie

This isn't truly a craft idea, but I think it would be good for some of the individuals including men. Help them make a scrapbook and write stories about themselves. If they don't have pictures, the stories would still be great to write up and pass on down to family. I'm including a link to a site with questions to ask to get them started. I've posted this site before on the scrapbooking forum.

Here is a link that might be useful: 50 Questions for family interviews.

Used to make baskets out of popsicle sticks.
Kathy G in MI

Recently at the nursing home I noticed several people with bags on their wheel chairs like I've seen on walkers. I would think the men could help cut the fabric out of something that looked manly and surely there's an older lady there that sews and somebody may have a machine in their room or the activity department may have one. The bags looked to me like the base fabric was probably 1/2 yd (18") long and half of the width of the fabric(23"). There were 2 pockets sewn on each end by putting a coordinating fabric across the bottom. Probably 9"tall and 18" wide and sewn on the ends and in the middle. It had biased tape around all edges and two buttons and button holes so that it would fasten around the arm of the chair. Good Luck.
Susan in Bama

Maybe something simple from wood that they could sand and finish?

How about sand bottles. You use plain bottles and pour different colored sand into them and then use a wire or something like that to poke along the sides making different designs.