Reading Helps

Do you remember Dr. Seuss, Nancy Drew Mysteries, Peter Pan, and Curious George? Well, so might your loved one with dementia. Perhaps they read to you when you were young, and for sure they read when they were young themselves. Reading to or with a person who has Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia can be wonderful activity. It engages their memory, connects with their emotions, and gives them something interesting to do.

It may be that your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease can still read with help. Choose a book that they may have known when they were young and sit and read with them. Let them try reading first, and if they are having difficulty, carry on reading to them.

Keep Them Engaged

Like an old tune that they may remember listening to when they were younger. A story they once read will engage their memory. Depending on their stage of dementia. Their efforts in reading the words by themselves will keep them occupied or they may need help. If they feel comfortable reading on, then allow them to continue the task. It will satisfy their need for achieving something on their own (yes, everyone, even someone with dementia wants to feel they can do it. And that they are independent and they are useful!). However, if they become frustrated you can take over and keep them engaged.

Where to start? If they can communicate, ask them to tell you one of their favourite stories. And if it’s a story that was published, visit the local library to see if they have the book to borrow. If they can’t say what they remember. Look into the books that were in print when they were young. Show them some titles and covers to see their reaction.

Happy book hunting!

Karen 🙂

Karen Tyrell, CDP, CPCA
Personalized Dementia Solutions

www.DementiaSolutions.ca