Amid all the effort in keeping your parents comfortable and healthy, it’s easy to forget an important element of senior care: helping them stay intellectually and mentally engaged and active. Reading supports this goal, but whether due to cognitive or visual impairments, it can be difficult for older people to read on their own. Luckily, you can help loved ones with this activity, which provides the following beneficial effects.

How Reading Can Support Senior Care

1. Improved Memory

Cognitive issues are common challenges faced by those over the age of 65, with as much as 40% of seniors experiencing some decline in short- and long-term memory. Fortunately, reading is a mental exercise that helps prevent and mitigate these issues. Listening to stories or information read aloud requires loved ones to engage their abilities for short-term recall and activates areas of the brain associated with memory.

2. Better Sleep Quality

As many as half of all individuals over the age of 60 have difficulty resting. For instance, it can be difficult for them to fall or stay asleep. While it’s possible to counteract this issue by taking sleeping pills and other aids, seeking nonmedicated solutions is better for seniors’ long-term health.

A reliable fix to the problem is reading. The activity causes the brain to release lower amounts of neurochemicals such as serotonin and dopamine, which cause individuals to feel wakeful and alert. In fact, 40% of participants in one study found their sleep improved after reading in bed over seven or more days.

3. Reduced Stress and Anxiety

Seniors can feel anxious and stressed for any number of reasons. Consequently, they can have trouble relaxing or carrying out basic daily tasks. These emotions typically occur due to the release of cortisol, which is a hormone associated with natural survival instincts.

Fortunately, reading and listening to others read is an effective way to lower cortisol production. As a result, seniors who participate in this activity regularly can feel more relaxed, confident, and comfortable.

If you need help providing quality senior care for your parents, contact COMPASS Homecare in Anchorage, AK. Their caring experts offer services tailored to each client’s specific needs and preferences, supporting good long-term mental and physical health outcomes. Call (907) 276-6960 to speak to a helpful team member. Visit their website for more information on their in-home services.