NEW YORK: I hadn’t expected a group of women in their 70s in a library to be so boisterous. Nora has recited a ribald verse about a well-known current politician, with bright-eyed relish, while Jill offers wry self-mockery at her continuing failure to finish War and Peace. Barbara is happy to share her passion for reading with kindred spirits. “You lose yourself in a book,” she says, explaining how literature has helped her through hard times in old age.
We are sitting in a bright space at Mayflower Court residential skilled nursing home in Southampton, where one long wall of the modern building is covered in bookshelves containing a diverse selection of titles. They are catering for a clientele who clearly enjoy contemporary biographies and thoughtful non-fiction as well as novels – historical yarns being a particular favourite. The well-read women also draw me into a lively discussion of subjects ranging from ancient history to contemporary sexual politics, alongside literature.
A growing number of skilled nursing homes are discovering that libraries and reading groups can transform the lives of their residents, including those with dementia. Residents at Mayflower Court can join the reading group which meets every Tuesday morning in the library.
Former librarian and resident, Pat Marton, runs the reading group. “Reading is a fantastic way to encourage the group to keep mentally active and engaged,” she says.