DementiaRoadmap Wales

The Reader Organisation is a charitable social enterprise working to connect people with literature through shared reading.

The aims of the older people and dementia work programme are to

• ensure quality literature and our unique shared reading model is accessible to all irrespective of age or health
• improve quality of life and care for people living with dementia and their carers
• establish shared reading as a non-medical intervention for people with a diagnosis of dementia

For older people and those living with dementia, shared reading groups improve quality of life through cognitive stimulation, social interaction and meaningful engagement each week.

Carers and care home staff notice that improvements in mood and concentration last long after the group has finished, demonstrating the wider impact of the groups.

Evaluation of the Reader Organisation’s Get Into Reading groups shows:

• improved mood for 86% of readers
• greater concentration for 87% of readers
• increased social interaction for 73%
• less agitation for 86% of readers

Find out more about the Reader Organisation at www.thereader.org.uk