October is National Blindness Awareness Month, so it’s a good time for the families of seniors who are blind or visually impaired to learn more about how loneliness affects seniors, how they can help prevent it, and how companion care at home services can assist.
Loneliness is a huge problem for all seniors, not just blind or visually impaired seniors. Seniors who are aging in place have a higher risk of becoming socially isolated because often their family members live far away or don’t get to visit as often as they would like. Since it can be difficult for seniors who are blind or visually impaired to go out on their own they often end up staying at home and not getting the social interaction they need to stay healthy.
Some of the things that seniors who are blind or visually impaired can do to engage socially and maintain important friendships and relationships are:
Companion Care At Home
Companion care at home is ideal for seniors who are blind or visually impaired. With companion care at home seniors who are blind or visually impaired have someone in the house that they can talk to throughout the day. They also have someone that can read them the news, help them with errands, or just go for a walk with them so they can get out of the house safely. With companion care at your home, your senior parent will get the social interaction they need to avoid being lonely.
Senior Activities
Many senior centers offer activities for seniors that are designed to be accessible for seniors with special needs. Seniors who are blind or visually impaired can make new friends, go on day trips, and enjoy a full social life in a setting that is designed for their unique needs surrounded by people who work hard to make all events accessible to seniors with unique needs. Senior centers also may have special activities just for seniors that are blind or visually impaired.
Social Media
Social media is often accessible to those who are visually impaired or blind through smartphone apps. Smartphones have a range of accessibility features that can help seniors and others with visual impairment enjoy social media, podcasts, and other digital entertainment. If your senior loved one doesn’t have a smartphone it might be a good idea to get them one and explore the full range of accessibility options that phone today offer.
Phone Calls With Family And Friends
Nothing beats an old-fashioned phone call from a friend or family member for making seniors feel connected to the world. If you can’t get over to the house to see your parent as much as you’d like you can call them once a day to check in and see how they are doing. It doesn’t have to be a long call. But even just a five or ten minute check-in call to make sure they are ok and ask about their day can make seniors feel like they are loved and important.