Modern technology often confuses older people. It doesn’t have to be complicated, but some just can’t get used to the buttons and features. There’s one item that families want their parents with diminishing eyesight to embrace. That item is an e-reader.
If your parents love to read, an e-reader makes sure they keep reading, even if eyesight is worsening. They always have more than one option in case one book just isn’t that good.
The Pros of E-Readers
Clearly, the number of books you can store on an e-reader is a major plus. Most e-readers can hold more than 1,000 books. That’s far more books than your mom or dad will likely ever own at one point, but if they’re real bookworms, there’s plenty of room for everything they plan to read.
Another check for the pro column is the ease of setting the font size, darkness, and font type. As your parent’s vision changes, the e-reader allows them to enlarge text, make it bolder, or change to a font that they find easier to read with their changing eyesight.
While you can buy books to add to your e-reader, there are plenty of free books out there. Your parents won’t have to spend money on books if they don’t want to. Some authors give away the first book in a series in hopes of tempting readers into purchasing the others. Sites like BookBub offer free books every day. You can also borrow electronic books from your local library and read bestsellers without paying a dime.
Are There Cons?
E-readers do need to be charged from time to time. Some of these devices can go days or weeks without recharging. It’s not hard to do, so your parent won’t struggle to complete the task. The biggest downfall is being at a pivotal part in a book and having the e-reader go into sleep mode until you’ve started charging the drained battery.
There is the initial cost of the device itself. Some cost well over $100, though you can get a satisfactory model for far less. Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite is affordable and doesn’t require a light to read at night. The device has back lighting that eliminates that need. If your parent is on a very tight budget, however, the initial cost may be hard to manage.
Your parent will need to embrace using an electronic device. E-readers are lightweight and don’t feel like a traditional book. That’s a benefit to some, but others find it strange. Some devices have buttons you push to flip pages, others require a swipe or tap on the left or right side of the screen in order to flip pages back and forth. There’s also a menu to navigate that gets you to the books you own.
When they’re not reading, keep your mom and dad engaged and social by hiring caregivers. Caregivers help people who are losing vision by driving them to stores and helping with housework. Call now to discuss other services caregivers offer.
If you or an aging loved one needs a Caregiver in Roseville, CA, remember Senior Home Care Services. Call us at (916) 514-7006 for more information.
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