How Your Senior Loved Ones Can Benefit from Reading



While promoting the benefits of reading for children is definitely important, seniors too, benefit greatly from engaging in routine reading. It can be a bit challenging to keep your loved one busy with activities and reading is the perfect way to help them cope with their cognitive limitations. Not only is reading an enjoyable experience, but it also strengthens memory and enhances the quality of sleep.
In this article, we’ll go over a few benefits your senior loved one can gain from reading.

Enhances Sleep

In today’s world, we’re constantly surrounded by technology and sources of distraction such as smartphones and the TV which can have a negative impact on the quality of sleep. According to the Sleep Foundation, it gets more difficult to have a proper night’s sleep as we get older.
It’s recommended to switch off all electronic devices in your loved one’s room before they go to sleep. Doing so will give you an ample amount of time to read along with them and relive their memories of childhood as they slowly fall asleep.

Distracts from Worries

Since seniors are forced to abstain from many physical activities which they used to engage in during their younger years, prolonged solitude can lead to depressing thoughts. Consequently, many seniors can begin to take unnecessary stress and worry. According to a study carried out by the University of Sussex, reading reduces stress levels by 68%.
Reading allows seniors to escape into a different world and acts as the perfect distraction from worries.

Improves Brain Functioning

They say that muscles remain strong the more frequently they’re used. Our brains work in a similar fashion. Developing a reading habit throughout one’s life helps flex the mind, an act that is noted to improve memory retention and brain functioning during later years, according to the American Academy of Neurology.
In fact, there’s even an article published by the Huffington Post which states that, according to some researchers, reading and writing play a role in delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

Helps Retain Language Abilities

The brain never stops learning and reading; even at an old age it keeps seeking opportunities to increase vocabulary and engage different parts of the brain. With that being said, try not to go for books that are too difficult or too basic. Instead, ask your loved ones which topic’s they’re interested in and then choose a book to read from one of those.
Mentally engaging activities such as reading not only helps fight against cognitive decline, but is also an excellent bonding opportunity. However, it’s possible that you don’t live with your elder loved ones, can’t visit them often, or are too busy with your own work.
In that case, AvantGarde Senior Living and Memory Care is a senior care community in Woodland Hills, CA, that provides a high standard of living for older adults. It has a team of trained and compassionate employees who work around the clock ensuring each member has all their needs attended to. Contact us today for more information.

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