13 Reasons Why Reading is Beneficial for Seniors

By Susan Ashby

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When we’re young, we wind up with lists of books at our feet to read for school. As we age, though, reading often becomes less of a hobby and more of a chore. Combine that with hectic lifestyles and reading is pushed beyond the back burner. Sometimes it can be hard to pick reading back up as we age. For example, did you know only 69 percent of seniors read at least one book in 2015?
 
Unfortunately, with that drop in readership comes missed opportunities to reap all the benefits reading can offer. From its ability to improve sleep to its potential to help with depression, reading is vital to how we live our lives.
 
Here is just a short list of all the things reading can do.

Reduces Stress

Reading has been shown to be a major stress reducer. After only six minutes of silent reading, tension and stress begin to melt away. The reader’s heart rate also begins to slow. On average, this reduces stress by nearly 70 percent, beating out other calming activities like listening to music.  
 
On top of that, it’s an easy and quiet thing we can do while receiving senior home care. That means it won’t cause anyone else undue stress like music can.

Improves Sleep

Reading at bedtime can help us prepare for sleep in a great way. When we’re reading in bed, we’re avoiding the bright lights from electronics that can keep us awake. That, combined with releasing stress, will have you in dreamland faster than it takes to count sheep.
 
Work with an assisted home health caregiver to set up an easy-to-follow bedtime regimen. That way, reading at night just becomes one part of it.

Be a Forever Learner

When we read, we learn more about the world around us. Whether it’s historical, biographical or even fictional, being exposed to new ideas can help us improve ourselves and our lives. It also exposes us to new ideas and more improved research.
 
Reading is also a great way to learn a second language. While it may be challenging, it offers its own rewards. People who speak more than one language–just the basics, even–can push their risk of developing dementia off nearly another five years.

Flexes Your Empathy Muscles

Have you ever sat down and gotten completely ingrained in a fictional book? Has one ever changed the way you look at the world? If so, it’s likely due to flexing your empathy muscles. The emotions authors pull from readers can transport us to another time, place or even galaxy. Reading can help us see things from another person’s point of view and be more open-minded.

Stimulates Your Brain and Imagination 

Reading can really stimulate your imagination and give your brain a workout. There is nothing quite as good as reading to give your brain a boost. It requires a unique mix of the parts of your brain used for seeing, reading and more. Increasing blood flow and neural activity in these parts of the brain is a great way to exercise it like we might other parts of our body.

Distractions Galore

If you’re dealing with some rough situations, books make a fantastic escape. Many seniors find reading gives them the ability to relive fun eras, explore new galaxies and learn more about the world around them.

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Improves Memory– and Can Limit Progressing of Disease

Every new memory we create helps strengthen the brain–literally. Our brains create new synapses when we stimulate ourselves. These synapses can improve the way our brains hold and access memories. Stimulation has been shown to reduce memory issues by up to 50 percent! For people dealing with illness-related memory issues, reading can keep disease progression at bay.
 
Reading can even help prevent the development of Alzheimer’s. The more challenging mental activities someone engages in limits the amount of a toxic protein called beta-amyloid in your brain linked to the disease. By limiting the amount of this protein, seniors can help preserve or even improve their short-term memory as well. When we consider that people who don’t exercise their brains wind up declining nearly 50 percent faster than those who do, it really is a win-win!
 
Looking for the best subject to read to give your brain a boost? One study suggests poetry is the best genre to reach for.

Boosts Analytical Thinking

Reading mystery novels has been shown to boost analytical thinking. Even if Agatha Christie isn’t your thing, being in a book club or discussing a book critically with others can bring you that same boost. Discussing books with your assisted home health aide counts, too!

Ups Your Ability to Focus

Everyone tends to want to multitask nowadays. You really can’t do that when reading a book. Because of the focus reading requires, it can often remind us of the importance of focusing on one thing at a time.

Shoos Away Depression

Reading self-help books has been proven to help with depression for some people. These books can remind us of the everchanging nature of things–and give us hope for that change right when we need it.
 
Happy endings in books can also boost our morale and mood. Books can also give us a feeling of connection or community, especially if we’re rooting for a protagonist.

Helps You Live Longer?

One 2016 study found that, on average, seniors who read more live up to two years longer than those who don’t. While much more factors into our lifespan, picking up a good book may just help.

Goal!

Reading can also help encourage us to follow through on goals, from de-cluttering to climbing Mount Everest. If you’re receiving senior home care services, your goal might not include mountain climbing. Still, reading about others accomplishing insurmountable tasks can push us to do our best.

It’s (nearly) Free!

One of the biggest barriers to entertainment is money. Libraries and book stores provide us with a lot of material to peruse and add to our collections. 

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If you or the senior in your life is struggling to read, there are things you can do. Having a loved one or senior home care attendant read to you can be incredibly gratifying while providing many of the same benefits. Technology, like e-readers, can make text more accessible through changing contrast, letter size and more.