5 Engaging Read-Aloud Activities for Seniors
Reading aloud is a familiar and cherished activity for many, often associated with bonding and warmth when sharing storybooks with children and grandchildren.
However, reading aloud can also bring joy and comfort to adults, especially seniors who may find it difficult to read on their own due to poor vision, tremors, or other medical reasons.
For seniors who have always loved reading, listening to someone read to them can be profoundly comforting and joyful. Unfortunately, read-aloud activities are often lacking in senior care homes, but this can easily be changed.
Why not start a Read-Aloud Readers Group; a Book Club with a difference!
The Benefits of Reading Aloud to Seniors
Seniors may give up reading due to various barriers, but this doesn't mean they've lost interest in books, magazines, or newspapers. Losing the ability to read often leads to feelings of withdrawal, sadness, and isolation.
Shared group reading can significantly improve their quality of life and well-being by:
- Stimulating memories and creativity
- Improving mood and concentration
- Increasing social interaction
Reading Aloud for Families
Reading aloud can also be suggested to families of seniors, especially if they run out of topics for conversation during visits. This shared activity fosters feelings of closeness and attachment.
How to Find Suitable Reading Material
Choosing the right books for read-aloud activities is crucial. Focus on literature-based books but also consider other materials based on individual tastes. Ask seniors what types of stories, news, and poems they enjoyed and plan the session accordingly.
For those not interested in traditional books, try materials related to hobbies, politics, current news, religion, or cooking. Suggested reading materials include:
Suggested reading material:
- Poems (known and unknown)
- Newspaper columns (e.g., gossip, gardening)
- Short stories (humor, mysteries, fables)
- Historical tales
- Biographies (presidents, scientists, famous people)
- Religious passages (Bible, Quran)
- Personal letters and celebration cards
- Catalogues (clothes, furniture, pets)
- Plays (e.g., Hamlet, A Streetcar Named Desire)
- TV programs (choose what to watch in the coming week)
- Travel brochures (places seniors visited)
- Specialty magazines (boats, fishing, motor-houses)
- Comics (borrow old-style comics from libraries)
- Recipe books (popular with some seniors)
Types of Reading Activities for Seniors
The goal of read-aloud activities is for seniors to enjoy themselves. Here are some engaging types of reading activities:
Audience Participation Stories: Engage the audience by having them repeat words or phrases, sing, gesture, or act. This interactive approach promotes focus and creativity.
Reading and Reminiscing: Read favorite childhood stories and discuss the books and the eras in which they were written. This can evoke fond memories and stimulate conversation.
Chapter Books: For seniors who can follow longer stories, read a chapter each session and recap the plot at the beginning of the next.
Short Stories and Poems: Read short stories or poems that can be completed in one session. This allows for a variety of genres and themes, keeping the sessions fresh and interesting.
Themed Readings: Choose readings based on themes such as holidays, seasons, or historical events. This can make the sessions more relevant and engaging for the participants.
5 Key Attributes of an Effective Reader
Activity professionals may delegate reading-aloud activities to a willing volunteer. It's important to find someone who is prepared and mindful. Effective strategies include:
Prepare: Read the story several times beforehand to practice the rhythm, pauses & tone.
Practice Mindfulness: Be present and engaged while reading to keep seniors interested.
Intonation: Use expressive intonation to convey emotion and enhance comprehension.
Pitch: Read loudly and clearly, especially for seniors with hearing deficits.
Pauses: Use pauses for emphasis to transport seniors to the author's world.
Evaluation
Observe if seniors discuss the session among themselves or with their relatives. Pay attention to which stories attract the most interest for future readings. Signs of engagement may include smiles, gestures, and a calm or attentive demeanor. Document these observations to refine and enhance future sessions.
Read-aloud Stories to get started with
Audience Participation Story: Mystery On Board
Short Story: Cairo the Military Dog
Where Do Superstitions Come From?
Short Story: The Disappearance of the Mona Lisa
Audience Participation Story: Backstage at an Elvis Presley Concert
Have you started a book club for seniors? What strategies have been most successful?
We'd love to hear your feedback!
Please print some more, my residents enjoyed the reading aloud participation stories.
I have an old set of My Book House, collection of children's short stories, fables, poems, etc. Vol. 6,7,8 seem to have stories that would be interesting to read, but written for children. Would that be appropriate or appealing for my skilled care residents?
Hi Rochelle
That depends on what group of residents you are reading to
Are the stories interactive
Is that subject matter interesting and add the residents interested in it?
To be on the safe side any one who is in the group, needs a note that they enjoy these stories
I read American Girl Molly to my residents. They enjoy listening to her life during WWII.
Hello
I read at a local retirement home. My sweeties,as I like to call them are all over 90 and are as sharp as tacks!They give me a run for my money (: Please keep posting reading suggestions, I struggle to find, short, but lively reads that will engage them and not insult their intelligence. They particularly like , olden day reminiscing stories.
I've been reading weekly at a long-term care residence in our small town for over a year. James Herriot's books have been a real hit - he's the English vet who practiced in Yorkshire, and wrote about the life of the country vet in the 1940s, 50s and 60s. The stories are mostly short and sweet, often funny. There is a fair amount of graphic vet talk, but nobody seemed to mind...
I am going to try Erma Bombeck next....
Thank you very much for sharing this with us Michael, this is exactly the style of short stories people are after!
I have been reading Little House on the Prairie as a late afternoon activity. The residents seem to enjoy hearing about the activities of rustic life and enjoy the story from the perspective of a little girl. They gather all around me. Such fun
This sounds lovely Sue. Thanks for sharing this idea.
Terrific success especially the short stories and poems
Please print more of these as everyone enjoyed them so much
HAVE YOU ANYMORE ??
Many thanks
Thanks Jill. We have had a number of requests for more short stories and we are working on it. The Scout website that Sharon shared with us also has a number of read-aloud stories you may enjoy: http://www.macscouter.com/stories/Participation.asp Thanks so much for your feedback!
Thank you very much for this idea. My residents are all in their nineties and we read a humerous addition of The Wizard of Oz. Two of the residents enjoyed reading aloud. I have asked my residents what book they would like to read next. They have chosen Treasure Island and I am awaiting on the delivery of a large print addition. We are going to do this activity a couple of times a week for short periods of time to see if they are still enjoying.
Hi Lesley Ann, thank you for the feedback, it is much appreciated.
I am a therapist with the geriatric population at a state mental hospital. This is made up of dementia patients as well as those with other illnesses. Reading to them is very relaxing to them as well as me. I have a large collection of Chicken Soup for the Soul books. I have found the stories very well taken by the patients and the stories are not long. There is a very large collection (100+) books to choose from. I highly recommend them!
I have also had success with Chicken Soup books at a senior day car facility. I am going to try recording some Nora Ephron, Erma Bombeck, and James Herriot for our You Tube channel, since we are not doing in-person reading right now due to Covid.
I may try some themed stories such as the Lincoln's beard story for President's Day or Armistice Poems for Veteran's Day.
Thank you Jennifer.
Hi Jennifer, thanks for sharing.
Hi Kath. I am just reading short stories like, Nurses of the outback. I just finished one that Slim Dusty's, wife Anne Kirkpatrick wrote ( I think that's her name). It was the story behind some of the songs she had written. I really enjoyed it too. We just have Lino floors. I read quite loudly for those who have trouble hearing. One lady sits right next to me as she loves the stories the most but has the most trouble hearing. Oh, and always have a bottle of water nearby.......dry throat.
Anne Kirkpatrick is Slim Dusty's daughter
Thanks Julie :D
I love reading aloud to my residents, perhaps being an former teacher has helped. They enjoy the funny "Odd Spot" in our local paper and always want to comment. Cheers and keep up the good work- Golden Carers!
Thanks for your feedback Karen, much appreciated!
Nice work everyone. Keep up the good work/.
Thanks Yasmin : )
I just recently started work at a DT. I do the sundowner shift in a secure dementia unit and after dinner decided to start reading to the residents. I pull all the chairs in close so that they can hear me better and I'll read for up to 1.5 hrs. They all sit and listen and very few wander. i choose short stories to keep their attention. It's really enjoyable not just for them but me too.
Julie that's wonderful to hear, you must have a soothing and interesting voice.
Does your facility have carpet/ good acoustics for reading?
Also, I'd love some ideas of the short stories you are reading - thank you for sharing :D
Oh Julie what a wonderful outcome, so lovely to hear. That is quite amazing that you can engage them so effectively for such a length of time.
I worked at a Day Centre where each Friday a group of clients would gather in the Libarary, they chose the book which was to be read and they met every Friday afternoon to listen to someone reading that book, the last one I read with them was "The Potato Factory" they loved it... some of the clients had a go at reading it out aloud too....
How lovely Lynn. Thanks for sharing.