Albert had always loved reading but as he grew older, his vision began to dim. Eventually, reading became so difficult and frustrating that he just stopped. His daughter Janice noticed that he had stopped reading and made a trip to the local library hoping to find an alternative for her father. When she walked into the building, Janice was met by a display of audiobooks celebrating June is Audiobook Appreciation Month. She hadn’t thought of audiobooks before but was pleased to find an audiobook copy of the very book her father had been reading. Albert wasn’t sure if he’d like listening to a book instead of reading it. However, he really wanted to find out how the book ended, so he gave it a try. Albert loved it and sent his daughter back to the library for the book’s sequel.
Benefits of Audiobooks for Older Adults
Older adults with vision problems aren’t the only ones who can benefit from audiobooks. They are great for seniors whether they have disabilities or not. In fact, a study published in the journal Basic and Clinical Neuroscience showed that older adults who listened to audiobooks had improved mental health. Other benefits of audiobooks include:
- Hands Free: Listening to an audiobook doesn’t require an older adult to hold anything. This is a great benefit for people whose hands are affected by arthritis or who no longer have use of their hands.
- Multi-Tasking: Seniors can listen to audiobooks while they do other things. That means they can “read” while knitting, doing a puzzle, or chopping vegetables.
- Free or Low-Cost Options: Most libraries have audio books on CDs that you can check out. They may also have services that allow you to check out an audio book online to listen to through a smartphone, laptop, or tablet. There are also subscription services available online that allow you to purchase audio books at reduced prices.
5 Audiobooks for Seniors to Enjoy
Looking for a great audio book to get your aging relative started? Here are five suggestions:
- A Man Called Ove (Fredrik Backman): A curmudgeonly old man learns the importance of connections when a quirky family moves in next door.
- Beautiful Ruins (Jess Walter): Set in Italy, the story spans 50 years following the love story of an Italian man who meets a beautiful movie star at a remote hotel. Unable to forget her, he returns to the hotel as an old man hoping to find answers.
- Find the Good (Heather Lende): A set of essays written by an Alaskan obituary writer living in a small town. Lende imparts words of wisdom gleaned from her experiences in talking to grieving families as she gathers details about their loved ones’ lives.
- The Girl on the Train (Paula Hawkins): A woman named Rachel watches a “perfect couple” from her seat on the train every day until one day she sees something that shocks her. From there, a convoluted mystery unfolds, but was Rachel involved?
- Water for Elephants (Sara Gruen): An elderly man tells the story of his days with the circus during the Depression. He spends his days caring for the animals and building relationships with the misfits who work for the circus, including the beautiful horsewoman who stars in the equestrian act.
If your aging relative would like to try listening to an audiobook, a senior care provider can assist them. Senior care providers can drive the older adult to the library to help them find a book on CD. They can also help them to check out a book online. If the senior chooses to use a subscription service, a senior care provider can help them to set it up and choose books to listen to.
Sources
https://seniorplanet.org/aging-with-geekitude-addicted-to-audiobooks/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5691168/
http://sixtyandme.com/hands-free-reading-5-surprising-benefits-of-audiobooks/
If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Hiring Senior Care in Gulfport, FL, Please Contact The Caring Staff At Assisting Hands Home Care Today! 727-748-4211.
