My heart goes out to you and your mom. My mom is in a similar situation having become progressively blind due to Macular. In addition she is in a wheelchair. She has been mild cognitive impairment which I think makes it more difficult as she is aware of her diminished quality of life. It's impossible for her to participate in the group recreational activities hosted by her care home. Her days are long and lonely. We have hired a private companion who is a senior that reads to her and plays music on her iPad. There is also a volunteer who takes her for walks in the adjacent park. The CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) has Resources such as book tapes and easy to use players. Family members come to visit whenever they can and make phone calls for her. It's a very difficult time with no easy solutions. My best to you and your mom.
My godmother went blind due to macular degeneration. It’s really hard for them to adjust. Their world has literally gone black.
Do you think your mom would enjoy audio books or soothing music? My area has a radio station that caters to the blind. They have volunteers who read wonderful books, articles from magazines, local newspapers, etc.
Call local resources in the area that help the blind. They will have suggestions for you.
All good suggestions - one activity our visually limited seniors enjoyed was making beaded necklaces and bracelets. Multi-colored wooden beads and fishing line were the only materials. Color order didn’t matter - and each one was truly unique! Audible books and tapes (second hand shop may have options) music all the time and definitely people she lovesaround for support - it must be so scary for her! .keeping things in their proper place is also essential to avoid frustration and breakage and tripping. senior centers and other service organizations may help - Consider personal care / companion - human or a trained service animal- if she is otherwise well and not living with dementia. Other senses may be heightened - smells and sounds may become more noticeable. here are several service organizations that may help. https://www.nvisioncenters.com/education/resources-for-visually-impaired/#:~:text=American%20Foundation%20for%20the%20Blind,-The%20primary%20goal
My mom resisted getting an Alexa, but now would really miss not having it. She can ask time, temperature, basic information from the Internet. Others might enjoy podcasts, music, using for Audible books or Amazon music with those services added. Also games - Mom isn't interested in those so not sure what is available, but I know there are some.
She definitely needs a companion, as well as support for ADLs. If she is intact cognitively there is much she can learn to do with minimal supervision. 1. Get Tollhouse cookie dough, bake sheets, and let her bake cookies to share. (Best way ever to make new friends!) 2. Plan times for family and friends to call her, making sure that she has a good audio hook up to hear them and communicate. 3. Find local concerts and plays. Even high school plays can be fun! 4. There are many crafts she can do if she has the cognition and manipulative skills for them. 5. Contact a nearby high school and arrange for local teens to get community service hours at her AL. Help them plan small group activities, be readers, take seniors outside for walks, talk to them about their school and future plans, ask about what it was like for the seniors when they were their age, etc. The on-site social worker can help set this up and everyone is a winner! 6. Work with Mom's low vision specialist and find out what she can see and do. Most people have some residual sight and many activities can be modified to let them do more. 7. Arrange for visits from local people with trained support animals. 8. Arrange for shared food tasting by bringing in unusual cuisine once/week and inviting a friend or possible friend at the AL to join her. (Thai? Ethiopian? Cajun? Anything goes!) 9. Have Mom evaluated so that you know what her sensory abilities are and what other impairments she has. A good occupational therapist can do this, and can advise you about activities you may not have considered for Mom. 10. Look at online calendars and have Mom help plan activities for the AL for funny holidays, even if they don't affect her. How about something for the secretaries for Secretaries Day? Or the health staff for Nurses Day? Ground Hog Day? Make a list of everything and the planning will involve other people and keep them all busy. Put Mom in charge!
1) I feel that these 'pets' for people with dementia are very comforting. Look at this website / video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFvGAL9tesM
2) See if you can find volunteers (university / college students studying in the fields of nursing, geriatrics, social worker, psychology. Any of the 'people helping' fields. They might volunteer and/or could possible do an internship visiting an elder. It is good experience for them.
3) Call LITA - Love Is The Answer - an organization that provides volunteers for those / elders in need. I do not know if they are located in your area although there may be other organizations that offer these services.
4) Anything tactile should/could help since now touch is so much more important w/o vision.
5) Get her a professional massage --And also call a massage school and see if they could post a sign on their bulletin board for a student learning to practice. It could be SO GENTLE that it is more or less 'just' touch so even if they are not far along in their massage course, it would help (I am a massage therapist and did this when I was in school).
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Do you think your mom would enjoy audio books or soothing music? My area has a radio station that caters to the blind. They have volunteers who read wonderful books, articles from magazines, local newspapers, etc.
Call local resources in the area that help the blind. They will have suggestions for you.
Best wishes to you and your mother.
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Our local Blind Instititue had many resources to help.
Someone will be assigned to her and be able to help with training for daily personal activities and hobbies.
If her hearing is decent can you ask that she be escorted to the main lobby of the AL. She may need help making some friends and socializing.
Can you hire a part time caregiver to help with her social activities?
The best of luck to you and mom.
wooden beads and fishing line were the only materials. Color order didn’t matter - and each one was truly unique!
Audible books and tapes (second hand shop may have options) music all the time and definitely people she lovesaround for support - it must be so scary for her!
.keeping things in their proper place is also essential to avoid frustration and breakage and tripping.
senior centers and other service organizations may help -
Consider personal care / companion - human or a trained service animal- if she is otherwise well and not living with dementia.
Other senses may be heightened - smells and sounds may become more noticeable.
here are several service organizations that may help.
https://www.nvisioncenters.com/education/resources-for-visually-impaired/#:~:text=American%20Foundation%20for%20the%20Blind,-The%20primary%20goal
1. Get Tollhouse cookie dough, bake sheets, and let her bake cookies to share. (Best way ever to make new friends!)
2. Plan times for family and friends to call her, making sure that she has a good audio hook up to hear them and communicate.
3. Find local concerts and plays. Even high school plays can be fun!
4. There are many crafts she can do if she has the cognition and manipulative skills for them.
5. Contact a nearby high school and arrange for local teens to get community service hours at her AL. Help them plan small group activities, be readers, take seniors outside for walks, talk to them about their school and future plans, ask about what it was like for the seniors when they were their age, etc. The on-site social worker can help set this up and everyone is a winner!
6. Work with Mom's low vision specialist and find out what she can see and do. Most people have some residual sight and many activities can be modified to let them do more.
7. Arrange for visits from local people with trained support animals.
8. Arrange for shared food tasting by bringing in unusual cuisine once/week and inviting a friend or possible friend at the AL to join her. (Thai? Ethiopian? Cajun? Anything goes!)
9. Have Mom evaluated so that you know what her sensory abilities are and what other impairments she has. A good occupational therapist can do this, and can advise you about activities you may not have considered for Mom.
10. Look at online calendars and have Mom help plan activities for the AL for funny holidays, even if they don't affect her. How about something for the secretaries for Secretaries Day? Or the health staff for Nurses Day? Ground Hog Day? Make a list of everything and the planning will involve other people and keep them all busy. Put Mom in charge!
Look at this website / video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFvGAL9tesM
2) See if you can find volunteers (university / college students studying in the fields of nursing, geriatrics, social worker, psychology. Any of the 'people helping' fields. They might volunteer and/or could possible do an internship visiting an elder. It is good experience for them.
3) Call LITA - Love Is The Answer - an organization that provides volunteers for those / elders in need. I do not know if they are located in your area although there may be other organizations that offer these services.
4) Anything tactile should/could help since now touch is so much more important w/o vision.
5) Get her a professional massage --And also call a massage school and see if they could post a sign on their bulletin board for a student learning to practice. It could be SO GENTLE that it is more or less 'just' touch so even if they are not far along in their massage course, it would help (I am a massage therapist and did this when I was in school).
Gena / Touch Matters
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