Reading is a beloved pastime with numerous advantages. For seniors, literature can also provide a variety of mental and emotional benefits. 
If you're a senior care provider or an aging adult, use the following guide to learn more about the advantages of reading.

Why Reading Is Beneficial to Seniors

Whether you're sitting down with a magazine or a favorite book, reading is an excellent way to relax while also enriching your mind. Studies show that those who engage in mentally stimulating activities such as reading show slower rates of memory decline than those who do not.

Reading exercises your brain and enhances your memory, which is especially critical for your short-term memory, including your recall of everyday events. It has also been shown to reduce stress and enhance sleep.

For independent seniors and those who live in senior care communities, reading is an excellent way to promote socialization. If you're visiting the library, joining a book club, or discussing the latest best-seller with friends, literature can stimulate conversation and communication and foster new relationships. 

How Technology Can Make It Easier

Technological advances have made it easier than ever for seniors to enjoy their favorite books and magazines.

eBooks are easily accessible for seniors with limited mobility, and can even be rented for free from your local library on a mobile device.

Tablets, e-readers, and even smartphones provide accessibility features, including backlit displays, touchscreens with large buttons, and adjustable text sizes, to make it easier to read for those with weakening vision. Seniors can also enjoy a wide variety of audiobooks through online subscriptions that make it easy and inexpensive to enjoy new books or classics while working on projects or unwinding before bed.

If you or a loved one are looking for in-home senior care, contact the compassionate and knowledgeable team at Perfect Hands In-Home Health Care & Services in Saint Louis, MO. For nearly a decade, their caregivers have provided a variety of hands-on services, including cooking, cleaning, and personal care options, like bathing and medication management, with a dedication to helping seniors live a healthy and fulfilled life. Contact them today at (314) 361-2448 to schedule a consultation, or visit them online to learn more about their services.