In this digital age, with the internet and endless numbers of shows to watch on TV, sitting down and reading a book may seem like an old-fashioned hobby. But reading provides a way for caregivers to relieve stress, and a way for senior clients to keep their minds active to prevent the onset of dementia. Using the Bookout app, caregivers can set goals for how often they'd like to read, track actual minutes spent reading and unlock various achievements.
To get started with the app, caregivers first should pick a book they're currently reading or are ready to begin reading. For those with digital readers, many libraries offer free access to e-books the same way you can check out a physical book. Users can then search for the specific title of the book they select within the app and it's added to their library with the number of pages. As users read the book, they can log the number of pages read, length of time reading and date.
These minutes can be logged towards specific monthly goals set within the Goals section of the app. Caregivers can pick either a monthly or a yearly goal for number of hours read. The goals section of the app also offers an alarm setting to remind caregivers to read every day. This feature could be particularly useful for senior clients, who might want to read daily for an hour or two each day to keep their minds active.
The Stats section of the app provides a look at pages read and time spent reading over time with a line chart. It also shows the number of consecutive days users have logged time reading. Caregivers can easily see their own progress on this tab, with more statistics available if they'd like to upgrade to the paid version of the app.
The Achievements area of the app offers some fun "badges" associated with reading different categories of books or for different lengths of time. For example, the Fledging badge is earned after completing your first book. Others require more in-depth accomplishments, such as the Worshiper app with requires users to add five quotes they enjoyed from a book to the notes on that book's page.
The Bookout app is available for
Apple platforms.
Senior caregivers, let us know your feedback on this app and keep us posted if you discover additional apps that assist with caregiving duties and help relieve caregiver stress. You may also refer-a-friend to a senior caregiving job and win prizes weekly and monthly on Caregiverlist.
-Paige Krzysko