Blind Dog

Question
We have a Bichon who will be 17 years old next January.  She remains in relatively good health for her age, eats well, and can be quite sprightly at times running around the yard like a puppy.  She has lost her hearing, which is a blessing since she no longer hears thunder that used to terrify her before.  She has gradually lost her sight and seems almost totally blind.  For example, she will stand in front of my filing cabinet, mistaking it for the front door, and waiting to be taken out.  To avoid accidents in the house we walk her at frequent intervals.  My question is what else can we do to make her remaining time as comfortable as possible and help her cope with her blindness?

Answer
Continue to take her out frequently and do NOT move any furniture in the house.  Dogs can use their sense of smell to navigate around the house and their memory to avoid bumping into things.  Do not let her outside unattended as she could wander away.