Various studies have shown that reading to a person with dementia helps their imagination, thinking and memory. Even if we read to a group of people and not just an individual, we have a positive impact on the listening group.
This article will highlight the benefits of reading to person’s with dementia and identify what books would be most suitable.
To assist our viewers with what and where to buy books, we have identified and reviewed the best books that can be bought for people with dementia.
Reading During Different Stages of Dementia
Reading to people with dementia relieves the stress, tension, and anxiety they may experience due to the disease during different stages. What matters is your calm presence, the time you spend on activity, and daily reading routine.
Position a person with dementia in a comfortable reading place and read to them. They can have their eyes closed while you are reading.
If a person falls asleep during an activity, do not wake them. You can take the fact that the person is sleeping as a compliment, as it means that person feels safe and relaxed next to you.
A Mayo Clinic study confirmed that reading also affects insomnia (connection between dementia and sleep).
If you introduce reading as a routine into the life of a person with dementia and read to them daily before going to bed, the person will know that it is time to go to bed and will calm down.
Your reading, however, will most likely lead them to a carefree dream.
Unlike watching television, which has been proven to keep people awake for a longer time, or the program content affects their sleep (nightmares, fear, tension, worries).
Books Connect Us
The content of the books enables conversation, arouses interest, evokes emotions and stimulates thinking.
Comfort
Some people with dementia, even though they can no longer read on their own, still like to keep books near them.
A person who once loved and read a lot, and has favorite books, will find comfort in them. He or she may want to just look at them, hold them or smell them. The books are evoking emotions and feelings with people with dementia. For this reason it is important to have books in a home for elderly people.
Conversation
Books can also be an essential element of a conversation.
With them, you can relive memories and life stories of a person. This is especially so with books that contain a lot of pictorial material. You can slowly review the pictures with the person with dementia, ask questions, and encourage spontaneous conversation.
Books stimulate the mind. Those of you who have a relative who doesn’t recognize people because of advanced dementia; maybe he/she forgets what they did that same day; or says very little, will
Connection
A book can be a wonderful connection between you and a person with dementia. By reading, you can create a pleasant atmosphere, an activity that makes sense and, above all, connection.
Make your usual time and visits to the person with dementia as beautiful and enjoyable as possible.
What Book to Choose when Reading to a Person with Dementia
Here we cover what to read and offer point our viewers in the direction of available resources that can be purchased.
Poetry
Reading is slower when reading poetry. There is less text and the same text can be read multiple times, line by line.
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Folk songs
Folk songs help with bringing back memories. Memories of singing together and folk tales.
This can open conversation about when they sang certain songs (holidays, socializing, war). Permitting emotions to come to life!
Fairy tales
Like with folk songs, fairy tales may bring back childhood memories, together with memories of raising children.
These books have lots of pictures with only a little text Your storytelling can be funny, serious, exciting, and you can change your voice when reading.
Puzzles
In the first phase of dementia, people still like to solve mental games, train their memory, compose and draw. Puzzles from nature are especially interesting.
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Cookbooks
Reading recipes, talking about food and what a person used to like to cook, evoke conversation, feelings and memories. Talk about favorite foods and how they made/cooked something- family secrets, special recipes.
Magazines and Newspapers
Selecting especially old magazines and newspapers from when the person with dementia was in their youth opens up conversations about the past.
Modern magazines and newspapers, interweaving of pictures and short text, following the days and current events, also allows for conversation.
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Religious Content
Reading the Bible, religious stories and prayer will comfort persons with dementia, especially if they have a religious background.
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Photographic Monograph
These are excellent as they have lots of photos and less text, promoting browsing and viewing. Photographic Monographs foster conversations about nature, travel, sport etc.
Classic Novels
Memories are stimulated when reading popular novels, especially the classics of their day.
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Feel Good Picture Books
Memories are also stimulated with images and stories of familiar experiences such as going to a beach, walking in the park or going on a vacation.
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Closing Remarks
Your next visit can take place without distress, thinking about what you will be talking about and wondering how to successfully break the uncomfortable silence if it occurs.
Even if a person won’t accept reading enthusiastically at first, don’t give up right away. Experiment with different literary genres and observe how the person responds.
Reading to a person with dementia is a rewarding experience for both them and yourself. It is simply a way to ensure your loved one is feeling happy, relaxed and connected.