When it comes to senior living, there are many activities that you can partake in with your elderly loved one to ensure that they're mentally active. Since reading involves cognition, it's one of the most beneficial hobbies you can encourage in your family member. Here's some more information about why reading should be incorporated into every senior living routine. 

Why Is Reading Important for Seniors?

1. Enhance Decision-Making Skills 

As we age, our ability to make decisions swiftly, accurately, and safely is at risk of diminishment. Engaging in cognitive activities in a senior living community, such as reading, can keep the brain fresh and agile, which can help with decision-making, discussion, and rhetoric. 

2. Decrease Anxiety 

Reading can be a very calming activity. A person's focus is on one task. A fiction book might serve as an escape or a step into a fantastical world, while a nonfiction book might be an opportunity for education and historical exploration. Either way, the action is stable and relaxed, which can help keep anxiety levels at bay. 

3. Improve Sleep

When a person is at a senior living community, their first few nights of sleep might be difficult. Reading can be an excellent way to lull the brain to sleep. Since it's such a relaxing activity, it works to calm the mind much more than a stimulating television or tablet might. 

If you're in search of a senior living community, consider bringing your loved one to Rivers of Life. This community offers dementia care and enhanced assisted living to families in Savage and Prior Lake, MN. They provide personalized care options for every resident and have a strong sense of community to make your family member feel at home. Call them at (952) 380-8698 to schedule a tour, and visit their website to learn more about their programs.