Leisure Reading for Seniors

image_pdfimage_print

Caregivers in Bernardsville NJ: Leisure Reading for Seniors

Has the loved one you have been doing the caregiving for seemed listless lately? Maybe they can’t get out of bed or off the couch as much as they’d like to, or maybe they are simply just bored with the same old routine. They need a hobby, something to stimulate their minds and hearts and imagination, and reading can be the perfect way to do that.

Reading has long been known as a way to escape without ever leaving your chair. You can sail across the world or fight dragons or grow up in a completely different household in a completely different life, all just through reading the words someone else wrote. Reading can be intoxicating, it can be freeing, and it could be exactly what your loved one needs to get their brain in shape, and their spirits lifted.

However, some seniors may find it difficult to read as they get older due to vision issues or other health problems. However, this doesn’t mean they have to stop doing it! Here are several different ways to read – at least one of them will be perfect for your loved one!

  • Paperback or hardback books – These are your classic books, with the beautiful, musty scent of the pages and ink, and the comforting weight in your hands. These books can be taken nearly anywhere – you can put them in a purse or simply just carry them in your hands. These are the books your loved one will be most used to, so they may love them simply for the familiarity as well.
  • Ebooks – Many seniors probably aren’t too enthusiastic about ebooks. But, they do have their benefits. For seniors with certain medical conditions that make it difficult to hold heavier things, ebooks can be a blessing. An ereader is usually much thinner and lighter than a paperback or hardback, and you only have to use one hand to hold it. You can even set it on your lap or another surface without worrying about it falling shut like a normal book would do.
  • Audiobooks – For seniors with vision problems, audiobooks may be just what they are looking for. Audiobooks are just normal books read aloud on a tape, CD, or digital download and in many cases, they are read by voice actors who really make the story come alive with their entertaining or dramatic readings. This could be the perfect type of book for someone who misses reading because of problems with their eyes. It can help them to recapture that magic and feel much better.
  • Reading out loud – As your loved one’s caregiver, you can also read books to them out loud if they don’t like any of these other options. Some people love hearing books read aloud by their loved ones. It is soothing, and a way for you both to bond.

No matter what vision or health issues your loved one may have, never believe that there is not a great book out there waiting for them. They may have to read it in a different way than they are used to, but that doesn’t have to make it any less enjoyable.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring a professional caregiver in Bernardsville, NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.

Susan Myer, RN, BSN, CCRN, CDP