Few things in life give us as much pleasure as spending time reading a good book. Whether it is a romance, mystery, or science fiction novel, reading represents one of the most beneficial activities for seniors at assisted living facilities. If you are considering a senior housing facility in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, you should consider one such as MorningStar that encourages its residents to stay active mentally by reading books.
Why Seniors Should Read
The joy of reading is reason enough to make the leisurely activity a part of a senior’s lifestyle. However, reading does much more than bring joy into a senior’s life. Some studies demonstrate that reading can help prolong a senior’s lifespan.
Let’s review the six benefits of reading for seniors residing at an assisted living facility in Rio Rancho.
Improves Brain Performance
You understand the benefits for a senior when it comes to using muscles to maintain strength and stamina. The same muscle-flexing principle applies to the brain as well. Seniors need to flex their brain muscles every day, which makes reading the ideal activity to improve brain performance. Some research indicates daily reading represents one of the most effective strategies for staving off the development of dementia.
Reduces Stress and Anxiety
Seniors at an assisted living facility in Rio Rancho have many ways to unwind, but few ways are as successful as reading. Research shows reading can decrease stress by as much as 68 percent. Because seniors at assisted living facilities often have to deal with the anxiety caused by uncertainty, reading is an activity a senior can rely on every day to create a more stable living environment.
Develop Empathy
Our brains display an intelligence level early on that stays consistent for the rest of our lives. The same cannot be said for emotional intelligence, which is an ongoing development process that helps us cope with different situations. Reading books, especially works of fiction, can increase empathy to help seniors at senior housing facilities in Rio Rancho connect with other people.
Encourages Interactions
Assisted living facilities represent great environments for seniors to interact because of the events scheduled each month. One of the first things you should do when searching for a senior housing facility in Rio Rancho is an assisted living facility’s monthly social calendar. With reading, a senior does not need a social calendar to interact with other people. Reading motivates seniors to share what they have read.
Effective Sleep Aid
Many seniors find it more difficult to fall asleep and then stay asleep than when they were younger. Reading is an effective sleep aid because it signals to the brain and the rest of the body the time has come to unwind for the day. Seniors should read hardcovers and paperbacks instead of reading from an electronic device to enjoy better sleep. Electronic devices trigger more brain activity, which makes it difficult to fall asleep.
Start Reading Today
Seniors have many ways to start reading. Joining a book club not only is a great way to build a reading habit, but it also helps seniors interact with other residents at an assisted living facility in Rio Rancho. Audiobooks are a great tool that encourage reading, especially for seniors struggling with vision issues. The environment where seniors read also plays a role in developing a consistent reading schedule.
At MorningStar of Rio Rancho, we encourage our guests to live self-sufficient lifestyles. Reading represents one of the best ways to achieve self-sufficiency. Learn more about what MorningStar assisted living facilities have to offer by connecting with one of our guest service representatives.
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