Reading

[plusthree]

DM is going through the diagnosis process at present, but I'm confident what the outcome will be.
She's always been a really keen reader and there are a couple of books that I know she would've enjoyed in the past that I'd like to buy her.

My question is, if her memory is failing will her comprehension be too? I'd hate to upset her, she'll feel she has to read them if they're a present.
She's always been a pleaser and when I told her I was enjoying a particular book she said she'd love to read it but she might just be being polite.

[PirateFairy45]

There's no harm in trying. If she's always been a reader then that might be a way you can keep the connection.

[plusthree]

Thanks Pirate, I wasn't sure if it would distress her.
They're the Kate Atkinson novels btw.

[ajandjjmum]

My Mum is reading Poldark for about the third time this year. She reads the first one, then goes onto the second in the series, and then back to the first.

Sad, as she was such an avid reader, but I suppose as long as she's finding it entertaining in the moment, that's all that really matters.

[powershowerforanhour]

I would go for it but usual things apply- if she wants to talk about them don't ask " Have you got to the bit where...?" " What happened to...?" but instead concentrate on the characters or whatever she wants to talk about especially things that don't rely on remembering specific plot developments. Dad likes films rather than books but this is how we discuss it- as it's happening, sharing the joy when the hero pulls off a daring move or the baddie gets his comeuppance, but not asking specifics like, "So did X get killed in the gun battle or did they die afterwards?"
I suppose if you're really wondering about comprehension you could try it out first under the guise of showing her a newspaper article and asking her opinion about some things in it.

[Starla268]

Reading can become more difficult as short term memory starts to fail as people can struggle to remember what has happened earlier in the book.

Depending on how the dementia affects her, some people can struggle with the written word and in this case an audio book can sometimes be a good alternative.

If she has always enjoyed reading I would go for it but have an open conversation with her about how she is getting on with reading these days.