A recent study posted in the New York Times suggested that senior citizens tend to not read as much as active, younger adults.
(prHWY.com) June 27, 2012 - Seattle, WA -- A recent study posted in the New York Times suggested that senior citizens tend to not read as much as active, younger adults. While there are a number of reasons this statement could be true, a Seattle retirement community in the Queen Anne area has made it their goal to prove this statement wrong.
"When I read that study it really burned me up", said Diane Tristan, a resident of the Shady Mountain Retirement Community. "I am an avid reader. I read all the time, there is no reason why people shouldn't be reading young or old."
Diane Tristan formed a group of residents that are making it their goal to read over 1,000 books in one year. The group is keeping track of their books and who read them in a huge community journal.
"We want to show the world just because you get older doesn't mean you have to stop reading", said Tristan. "I love to read and I'm surprised so many of my other friends and residents do to. By the way people acted you'd think we were all illiterate or something."
Diane Tristan and her group of friends will be doing several different things throughout the year to promote an interest in reading not only in the
retirement community, but in the community itself.
"We are planning on hosting a read-a-thon with a group of students from the look middle and high school", said Tristan. "We will have treats, games, and giveaways to those that show up."
Diane Tristan and her group of friends are also planning on an adult-only read-a-thon where the residents of the retirement community plan on reading books for 72 hours straight. The group also plans on hosting regular book discussions on a variety of different books.
"Every month we plan on having two different book clubs that met", explained Tristan. "Each one will focus on a different type of genre and allow us to really explore different types of books that we might not otherwise read it will be fun."
The staff members of Shady Mountains Retirement Community are also welcome to join. So far, all 45 staff members have expressed a desire to join.
"I think it's amazing to see these senior citizens so empowered", said RN Stephanie Summers. "To see them so excited about a common goal made me excited. I don't read that often but they really inspired me to read more."
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