That sounds like occupational or art therapy....a social workers job is to hook the patient up with resources such as out patient care, housing, job, social supports outside of the hospital..
and they probably wouldn't be allowed to use wood working tools in the hospital....if the hospital allowed that, i'd be very concerned about a loved one going there....and if all the guy did was demonstrate and couldn't let the patients try it---it was a completely inappropriate activity
what about teaching them how to use the internet to find resources and activities in the community
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-does-a-psychiatric-social-worker-do.htm A psychiatric social worker helps people who struggle with mental health issues cope with their problems and obtain important social services. He or she provides counseling to patients and family members, and helps them obtain both financial resources and medical services. The social worker might also investigate housing and job placement options for recovering patients.
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/psychiatry/expert_team/social_work/ Clinical social workers are vital members of the treatment teams in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. They are masters-level, licensed mental health professionals trained to help people find solutions to a range of social problems that often accompany illness. Psychiatric illness, in particular, often reverberates through a patient’s life, complicating and straining one’s relationships, job situation, and quality of life. Our social workers strive to help patients cope with these overlapping aspects of their lives while they heal, using a combination of individual counseling, group and family therapy, and connection to hospital and community resources.
Social workers are involved with patients in inpatient, day hospital and outpatient settings across the spectrum of specialty programs within the department. They conduct assessments of patients’ social, emotional, interpersonal and socioeconomic issues. They work to enhance patient and family communications with the medical team members to enable patients to be active partners in their own care. Depending upon the specialty unit, social workers are often involved in illness education and counseling. In all areas, they are pivotal to the aftercare planning process to facilitate a careful transition back to family and community.
maybe you can get them each a binder with a folder and notebook that they can use to organize their supports...you can tab sections (even just using scotch tape) for health care, recreation, financial, etc...if you had the money--you could make it really nice with high quality dividers and other niceties...
even if these are long term patients, you can help them understand their supports within the hospital
keep in mind---you cannot use Spiral notebooks----they do make 3 hole punched notebooks without the spiral
ask about the binder...you may need to find one with plastic loops..
or you may be able to just put a marble notebook inside a folder to keep any paperwork together
probably nothing with staples