13 year old who wont stop screaming in cage

Question

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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
I have a 13 year-old Boston Terrier who screams and howls the entire time we are apart from her.  She is blind and we have to crate her when she is alone.  We do make sure to let her do her business before we put her in and we put a radio near her for sound, but nothing seems to work.  Can you suggest anything to keep her calm in the cage while we are gone at work?
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I need a little bit more info here.  Has she always been in the crate?  where does she sleep when you are home?  why do you put her in a crate?  Does she get around, even though she is blind.  When did you start putting her in the crate.
Nancy
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She has always been crated when we leave her alone.  Although she can sometimes get around being blind, she tries to jump up and down on things and could hurt herself if we were not here.  We have no choice but to crate her for her safety.  She sleeps in a big cushy ball in the bedroom on the floor.  She sleeps through the night, so it is not an issue with her trying to move around.

Have I given enough info so you can help me?  We thought about asking for something from the vet to calm her while we are gone.  Do you think that is a good idea or do you have others?

Answer
I have been giving this some extra thought since hearing from you.  One thing I forgot to ask is Did she always scream when you crated her (for the last 13 years)?
But also here is what I would try.
First of all I agree that you should get something from he vet to calm her, but not ACE she is too old.
Second: go to Petsmart and buy two ex-pens about 30 inches high.  put them together and she will have a little pen in your house.  Put the cuddly pillow she sleeps on in one end of it.  If you can put the pen in your bedroom.  If you want to cover the floor with whatever was in your  crate, then only do so in one area.   Also there is a toy out that when the dog touches it, YOUR voice (which you prerecord) tells her some command that you usually give her.  I think maybe the larger area, and her bed and the meds will help this situation out.
Sorry I took so long to answer, but I was thinking this over and had another "dog" emergency I was working on.
Nancy