Can you recommend some good activities for my 90 year old nana (she is blind in one eye)?

Question

She lives on her own so we often spend the weekend with her but when we are not there she suffers from loneliness.

Unfortunately, she finds it hard to read or write for long because she is blind in one eye.

I need to find something because she keeps drifting off to sleep but then can't sleep at night.

Answer 1

You might want to look into a easy pet for her. A canary is a very good pet, they sing a lot, she would enjoy that. They are easy to care for. A cat is also a good pet for a senior. There are senior groups you can sign her up for. They will come and get her and take her to other people her age, so she can socialize, when family is not available. Social Services has a Senior Council that provides in-home care for her. Someone would come out once or twice a week to cook for her, bath her, clean her house and even take her for walks ....I know this for a fact I was an in- home provider for two senior women for 5 years...I even took them shopping..
Good Luck with your Nana.

Answer 2

She might enjoy getting out of the house once in a while. Many communities now recognize the need for Adult Day Care. See if there is a near-by center where she could "visit" occasionally and join others her age for fun activities and fellowship.

Also, get ideas from your Local Agency for Aging. They have a lot of resource materials that are FREE for the asking. Ask if they have the Senior Resource Guide.

Answer 3

What about audio books on cassette or disc. They also have the Bible on such.As others have suggested a companion,friend,one of the older grandchildren or family members could switch off daily or in shifts if feasible.Or church members if she goes or went to church.Maybe you could go to a local nursing home and inquire about their in house activities and see if they would be willing to let Nana participate. Maybe your local library has workshops where she could donate her time working with children,telling stories or letting them read to her.Sometimes it would help her as much as the child.Local hospitals and local women's battered shelters need all sorts of volunteers.You don't state Nana's health ,but if blindness is basically her only ailment try her out and see what happens.Does she like to cook or bake? Maybe with someone else there of course , she might enjoy that.Flower gardening, does she or has she ever raised live stock or chickens she might enjoy feeding a small flock of chickens and they are very easy to care for . Some one could collect the eggs for her.Take her out to eat,to the park or just for a drive. To the neighbors .She won't care,as long as you are with her .And the benefits to both of you will be enormous. I have three Grandma's 2 are 84 and 1 is 95 and I have one Grandfather who is 88.Goodluck with your Nana.

Answer 4

I commend you for being such a caring and loving person. Isolation is a real problem for the elderly. I would say visit as often as you can and bring your friends. It is always nice for them to be around younger people.

Some ideas I thought of is - get her a motorized wheel chair where she can go outside. Plant her some flowers to look at while outside. How about buying her a CD player and getting her the bible on CDs so she can listen to it. Does your church have a volunteer group that goes visiting? If so, ask them to visit her regularly. If not, start one! How about getting her a tape recorder and ask her to tell some of her favorite memories of her childhood on it so you can make it into a memory book for her? Make a list of questions about her life that you would like to know about.... what are all the kinds of jobs she had? How was she disciplined as a child? What were her favorite activities as a child? How did she and your Grandpa meet? Get the details? what were her parents like? you get the idea I'm sure. Bless you for caring so much!

Answer 5

Get a CD player which is easy to use. Or load it for her on the weekends, and let her replay it. They like simple foods, she may want a walker for stability, they do like music and church services on the radio or television. Flowers, does she have her garden. Take in some flowers, Grandchildren, and visits from her grandchildren..
You may want to consider overnight help, as in trading housing with a nursing student, so someone is there for her at night. Or a companion agency, which provides services.

Answer 6

Two things. First, I have a ton of hold time radio programs. I have some eye problems and I kinda collected them for me, just in case, but I'm alway giving them out at the eye clinic. E-mail me and will see if we can get her some.
Second....if she's never been on a cruise, take her on one....it will wake her up and give her a tale to tell until it is all used up.

Answer 7

Encourage her (and assist) to get up and walk around the house.... If the house has an upstairs, then assist her up and down one time daily.. This willl do MORE than any verbal activity! Movement is the key for general health... Up and at it!! GO FOR IT!! (and you stay right there with her while she's in progress of movin'.. Be next to her during this exercise so you might catch her if she becomes unsteady!!

Answer 8

Is there a center with activities for her? A Red Hat chapter in her area -- they have lots of fun activities. Visit the Mall. Go to a park, a concert, etc. I am sure there are things to do that you both would enjoy.

Answer 9

The library has a wonderful selection of audio books. Inquire with in her community about centers that provide excellent activities for the senior citizen.

Answer 10

How about giving her a trained pet cat. You can clean the litter box when you visit and you can buy a feeder that holds a week of food for the cat.