Activities for 50 y/o man with vision and hearing loss?

November 2, 2015 1:22 PM

A friend-of-a-friend lives in a care home facility and is not able to do most of the activities offered at the home due to significant vision and hearing loss. He's intelligent and bright. What tactile games and puzzles can I suggest to help him pass the time? Group or solo suggestions welcome.
posted by onecircleaday to Grab Bag (9 answers total)

Best answer: Once you've got the basic skills down, knitting and crochet are fully within the realm of things low-sight (and even blind) people can do. They have the side benefit of being very soothing (studies show they actually lower blood pressure!) and chances are good another resident or two already know how so he'd have some backup, learning-wise.
posted by bitter-girl.com at 1:29 PM on November 2, 2015

Best answer: If you could help him set it up, this lap loom is really well made and fun to use. Once the vertical part (weft?) is threaded, you can do the rest largely by touch. They also have a smaller version.
posted by Ostara at 1:54 PM on November 2, 2015

Best answer: Braille Rubik's cube?
posted by metasarah at 2:13 PM on November 2, 2015

Response by poster: These kinds of activities are exactly what I'm looking for, thank you! Keep 'em coming! : )
posted by onecircleaday at 2:14 PM on November 2, 2015

Best answer: What about learning Braille? It would be an excellent skill to have if his condition progresses and with that skill there are games like Braille Monopoly.
posted by cecic at 2:14 PM on November 2, 2015

Best answer: What about an assortment of tactile brain teasers. Actually as cheesy as many of the things in these kinds of catalogues are, there are a few things I saw that could be fun for someone even with low vision.
posted by Northbysomewhatcrazy at 2:24 PM on November 2, 2015

Best answer: Where is he geographically located? Because there are services like Lighthouse who can help him specifically with low vision and multiple disabilities. He can learn to use an iPad. He can learn to play games. He is only 50 and the road ahead is long, so if he doesn't have ASL and Braille, now is absolutely the time to acquire them.
posted by DarlingBri at 2:27 PM on November 2, 2015 [1 favorite]

Is he physically mobile? Because dance would certainly be available, and a lot of fun.
posted by Miko at 3:34 PM on November 2, 2015

Yoga, too! My 70-year-old dad is a cancer survivor and air force vet and he's the last person you'd expect to do yoga, but it's helped him quite a bit.

What about something like huichol string painting? Here's a tutorial. It assumes some vision, but since it's largely tactile it might be pleasing for him.

My mom is blind in one eye and enjoys quilting. She has sewn all of her life, though, well before she lost her vision. I think sewing might be harder for someone to pick up if they are already visually-impaired.

What about one of those Aerogarden things? Even a fluorescent bulb over a tray of seedlings would work and be much less expensive. He could grow fragrant flowers or herbs. Also very tactile .... it's fun to rub the leaves of a rosemary or lavender and smell the aroma. Lemon verbena would be another excellent choice.
posted by Ostara at 5:14 PM on November 2, 2015 [1 favorite]