Senior Care News

The Benefits of Reading with Age

Senior Care in Wooster OH

Reading is fun and fundamental—at least that is how the old saying goes. As children, the world comes alive through storybooks. Whether it is from a book being read to you at night by your parents and guardians or an adventure tale that you are making up as you played with your friends, fictional stories taught us about friendship, hard work, and the merits of perseverance and commitment.

For too many people the enjoyment that comes with reading a good book gets lost for some reason in the middle years of life. Perhaps it comes as a result of being forced to read books that you would never find enjoyable during your middle and high school years, or maybe it is thanks to the daily grind that so many of us feel as week after week goes by without a break.

But as the years go by, the basic pleasures of life have a way of circulating back through, and luckily for many people that means the joy of reading is actually rediscovered in the later years of life. When it comes to elderly care, there may be nothing better than helping an aging adult engage with the life and excitement of a fictional character, of giving them the opportunity to get caught up in the ups and downs of a new novel. This is a simple addition to any home care program, and is something that really enhances quality of life in several capacities.

Here are a few reasons why it reading is so highly recommended in aging adults:

  • Reading is shown to enhance stress management practices. Research from the University of Sussex showed that many seniors were able to present reduced heart rate and relieved muscle tension within just six minutes of reading a book.
  • Reading is also shown to improve cognitive functioning, and is suggested as a way of staving off Alzheimer’s disease. According to a study published in the journal Neurology, seniors who engaged in reading or similar activities every day were 32 percent less likely to experience symptoms of dementia. And this study looked at individuals with an average age of 90!

 

There are a lot of reasons to open up a book. When it comes to providing optimal senior care, this is one activity that is worth investing some mental energy into. Reading is low-cost, and can fundamentally enhance one’s quality of life by adding a new level of excitement and interest into the day. It is a must-do for any in-home care program, and is a great solution to an otherwise empty afternoon.

If you are considering hiring senior care services near Wooster, OH, call the caring staff at Central Star Home Health at (419) 610-2161.  Providing services for families in Mansfield, Lexington, Ashland, Bellville, Crestline, Galion, Loudonville, Mt. Gilead, Shelby, Wooster and the surrounding areas.

Source
http://www.neurology.org/content/81/4/314

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/5070874/Reading-can-help-reduce-stress.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/08/05/health-benefits-reading_n_4081258.html

Stephen Sternbach

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