Recommendations needed for a lady in her 70s.

[LetThereBeRock]

I'm a volunteer at a care home,and I'm going to be reading once or twice a week to a lady who has Dementia and who is completely bed bound.

I'd appreciate some suggestions for suitable books and authors,. At the moment I know relatively little about her,other than that she's a Jehovah's Witness, and loves books.
I'm reading to her tomorrow so I don't have time to find out her interests before then,though I'll certainly do so at the first opportunity.

I have a Kindle so I can download a new book in time for tomorrow,but any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Something relatively light would be best I think,other than that anything goes.

TIA

[LetThereBeRock]

Thankyou.Poems are an excellent idea. I'll look for a suitable compilation.

[gailforce1]

No reading suggestions but just wanted to say that you are doing something so nice for this lady - just someone spending quality one to one time with her will mean so much!

[LetThereBeRock]

I hope she enjoys it. She's not really verbal,so I'm worried that I'll drone on too much,or that she won't be enjoying a book and I won't realise,but hopefully I'll learn to read her signals.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

How about trying some short stories? You might find her tastes more quickly that way.

[KurriKurri]

I think poems are a good idea, maybe some very well known ones. - My dad has alzheimers, and he wouldn't be able to follow what was happening in a book, because he wouldn't remember the previous sentence. But strangely he can recite poems he learnt when he was a boy.

He also enjoys having bits of newspaper read out to him, even though I don't think he knows what they are about, and he likes looking at books with old photos in, of the place where he grew up, old airplanes etc. - things from his past.

He's quite advance in his illness though, so your lady might well be able to enjoy a short story.

What a kind person you are

[gailforce1]

LetThereBe how did it go? Hope it went well.

[LetThereBeRock]

It did. I think she enjoyed it,though as she can say just a few words,and has advanced dementia it can be difficult to tell,but she did seem to respond.

I enjoyed reading to her,and I'm hoping to do so twice a week. I have other volunteering commitments in addition to this,but her fellow JWs visit her,and occasionally family I believe,and of course there's the staff at the nursing home.

Thankyou all for the suggestions,and those since I last responded. You've all been very helpful.

[FreeButtonBee]

I know it might sound a bit patronising but what about something like Dahll, something like the twits or george's marvellous medicine? Theybare brilliant stroies and very engaging, even for just short periods.

[LetThereBeRock]

It doesn't sound at all patronising. I recently downloaded some Dahl for my own reading pleasure,so I'll certainly try some of his books and stories with her.