Planning activities for our visually impaired loved ones may seem a bit daunting as we don’t want to put them in any danger, but we also want to experience things together with them. There are a lot of different ways we can spend time and bond with them that is safe and full of fun.
Get In Touch with Your Artsy Self
Art is something you feel inside of you and it’s not something you need to necessarily see to understand. Art is a beautiful way to express oneself and there are so many ways to do so. Especially mediums like sculpting and pottery that offer a more tactile and hands-on experience. This could be a good way for you and your loved one to do together as you both can bond and express yourselves. Sculpting has the added bonus of us being able to touch and feel our loved one’s creations and hopefully better understand what they experience through touch as well.
Gardening
Gardening may not be an obvious choice but it’s a good option to look into. Gardening, like art, can be very therapeutic. Your loved one doesn’t need to tend to a whole garden, just a few plants on a windowsill or a terrarium would be great fun too. Taking care of plants that bloom into fragrant herbs and flowers is a multi-sensory experience that your loved one can really benefit from. If you do have a small garden, you can help them with the gardening and it’s also a great way to get some sun!
Cooking or Going Out to Restaurants
Some of the best memories made are ones over a shared meal. Perhaps your loved one once loved to cook or loved going out to have meals, bringing them to do these things again is a great way to bond and reconnect. Help them cook a simple meal in the kitchen for the family or for some friends or bring them out to eat somewhere they used to frequent and help them relive the good old days. Or visit our in-house dining at Aston Gardens At Tampa Bay. Eating and cooking are also multi-sensory activities that can help our loved ones feel more connected to us when doing together.
Enjoy Music Together
Music can be a great comfort for the soul but it’s also an exciting activity to partake in. Music helps relieve us of our stress and transports us to a happier place. Especially when listening to songs we used to love, it can remind us of a happier time. Play some old songs your loved one used to love or introduce them to some new songs you think they might enjoy. If they used to play an instrument, encourage them to pick it up again, or if they don’t it could be a great benefit to learn how to play. Music also helps us express ourselves in the way words sometimes fail to and it is a great way to escape from our everyday lives.
Being visually impaired should not hinder your loved ones from enjoying the things they once used to do. Nowadays the world has become a lot more visually impaired inclusive, and many doors have been opened up to so many activities you may have thought your loved ones weren’t able to participate in before. Here at Astons Garden At Tampa Bay, we offer assisted living if you or your loved one is considering moving to a retirement community.
