Reading ability and insufficient provision with reading aids in a population of nursing homes

Introduction: In our society people are getting older and often become hand icapped and immobile. Reading then is one of their main passtime and very i mportant for their social integration and independence. Patients and Methods: Seventy-seven (6 males, 71 females) randomly chosen e lderly people (age ranged from 77 to 94 years, mean: 85,5 years) staying in nursing homes were examined concerning their reading ability of newspaper print with their own reading equipment. Exclusion criteria were extensive o rganic diseases and impaired mental ability, such as dementia. Relevant anamnestic data, including ophthalmologic, family and social histo ry were ascertained by questionnaire. Special attention was given to visual acuity for near distance, reading ability, motivation and personal reading aids. Further questions dealt with general diseases, medication, social co ntacts inside and outside the nursing homes and the former occupation of th e patient. If reading of newspaper print with individual glasses was impossible, the e ffect of magnification was evaluated and the magnification factor was deter mined (Zeiss reading charts). Results: Thirty-eight people (45 %) were unable to read with their own read ing glasses. 91 % of them regained reading ability by magnification, they h ad inadaquate visual aids. 77 % of this group had a magnification requireme nt of 1 to 3 times, 14% needed 10 to 25 times of magnification and 9% more than 25 times. Only one person had an electronic magnifying reading system (CCTV). Conclusion: Reading aids of elderly people very frequently are insufficient . Magnification can be helpful in most cases and various magnification syst ems are available. With this support elderly people could regain their qual ity of life, their independence and socialization. Nursing costs could also be reduced.