Activities for the Elderly and Blind

There are many activities for the elderly and blind to engage in to fill their time and improve their quality of life. The support of family and friends can make life more enjoyable for the elderly and blind. If there are support groups or clubs for the blind in your area, it can be helpful to spend time with others who are in similar situations.

Books

Enjoying books still is possible for older people who have lost their vision. Those who are not completely blind might be able to read large-print books, available in many libraries and bookstores. People who are completely blind can read books in braille or listen to books on tape or CD, suggests the Society for the Blind website.

Crafts

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Knitting and crochet projects are a good way to spend time and make scarves, hats or blankets for yourself or as gifts for others. Working with yarn provides a pleasurable tactile sensation, and these activities can be worked by touch alone without needing to rely on sight.

Radio

The elderly blind may find listening to the radio to be a way to keep up with what’s going on in the world, as well as enjoying music. According to Medicalnewstoday.com, listening to the radio has frequently been reported as being an important hobby for blind people.

Pottery

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Because creating pottery depends on the sense of touch more than sight, it can be a good activity for the blind, reports the American Foundation for the Blind. Elderly blind people can design and carry out pottery work, as well as those who are younger or sighted, once they get the hang of it.

Pen Pals

Community is important for the elderly blind. To this end, there are organizations that arrange pen pals to communicate with each other in braille. This can help the elderly blind feel less isolated and have someone to share common concerns and conversation with. For those who are computer savvy, there are also pen pal groups for the blind and the elderly that communicate by email messages.