Reading isn’t just a wonderful way to dive deep into fascinating topics or escape into other worlds. It’s also a great way to maintain your well-being as you age.
According to research, reading improves both episodic memory, which helps us recall events that advance the plot, and working memory, the “mental multitasking” that allows us simply to hold more in our minds.
If you add in a social element of joining a book club, reading becomes a true powerhouse activity: Study after study has shown that social connectivity and staying active in body and mind lead to greater levels of happiness and overall longevity.
Are you interested in forming a reading group but not sure where to start? Here are some tips for starting a book club, with ideas specifically for seniors.
The best way to understand what your community is looking for in a book club: Just ask!
Don’t be shy about chatting with neighbors, fellow coffee shop patrons, or friends from your local gardening group or yoga class.
You may find that themes or special interests emerge, from World War II–era historical fiction or memoirs to The New York Times’s “100 Best Books of the 21st Century” list.
Consider logistics
Based on the feedback you receive, create scaffolding for your club.
- Will discussions be structured or free-form?
- How often will you meet?
- For how long? Where?
- Will membership be capped?
- Perhaps most importantly, will there be refreshments?
Setting some loose guidelines before you start inviting members can keep things organized and expectations aligned
The most important element for starting a book club is, of course, people who are eager to talk about their latest read!
Market your club to new members
Time to spread the word! There are so many ways to let fellow seniors know a book club is brewing:
- Post eye-catching flyers in local spots where your contemporaries spend time
- Share information through community social media or neighborhood Facebook groups
- Buy an ad or ask to be added to the event listings for a local community email newsletter or website
- Talk to local bookstores or libraries about featuring your book club for seniors on lists they maintain
- Live in a retirement community? Consider hosting an introductory "meet and greet" with light refreshments — and don’t forget to ask your lifestyles team for their help!
Vi at The Glen has created book clubs for residents with different tastes as well as different needs, including a group for those with low vision and one in the community’s care center. Anyone can join any group, with no pressure to contribute brilliant analysis.
“You can participate or just actively listen,” said resident and fiction club leader Mary Butler. “Different viewpoints can bring out ideas we hadn’t considered!”
Obsess over accessibility
Abilities can change over time, so your members may need different accommodations to ensure they can enjoy book club meetings with everyone else.
- When choosing a space, be sure it’s accessible to those with mobility aids like wheelchairs and walkers.
- Consider reading materials that are available in a variety of formats, including large-print and audiobooks.
- Think about ways to take the pressure off of members with differing cognitive abilities and ensure they can still be part of the discussion even if they can’t remember every detail of the book.
Pick up some unputdownable books
Reading selection is everything, and it can be tough to choose from all the options out there.
As you get started, look to some established sources for ideas on what to read that will get everyone talking, including:
- Your favorite news organization, like The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal or NPR
- Book-discovery websites like Goodreads or Booklist
- Celebrity book clubs, like those affiliated with Oprah, Reese Witherspoon, or Jenna Bush Hager of the TODAY show
Of course, book club members may also eventually be a great source for reading recommendations.
Play with discussion formats
Consider how you’ll structure the conversation.
Will you have a facilitator who brings an agenda to the meeting? If you choose this route, finding book discussion questions can be easy — many popular books have discussion questions at the end to get you started.
Or perhaps you want your book club gatherings to feel more like an open-ended conversation? Sometimes a great chat can grow out of a simple question: “So, how did you like the book?”
Discussion facilitation “requires preparation and obviously a love of reading, but everyone who leads one of our clubs has their own method,” said Vi at The Glen’s Mary Butler.
And remember, nothing is set in stone: See how participants respond to different styles of discussion and adjust if one format sticks out as successful.
Adapt membership to your growth
Prepare to pivot if your group grows to the point of being unmanageable: a great problem to have!
For Don Sager, book club president at TidePointe, a Vi Community, breaking a large, unwieldy group into smaller groups made all the difference.
As membership blossomed, they had to relocate to a community space that required a microphone for the leader to be heard, resulting in meetings that felt “more like a book report,” Sager said.
The group ultimately split into groups that meet at different times and read different books. The community now has more than 40 members across four groups, and discussions become richer with every meeting.
“Before, monthly meetings lasted less than an hour,” he said. “Last month, two of our groups met for more than 90 minutes and stayed even longer to chat — just as friends.”
Keep it exciting
Talking books is always fun, but adding something special to regular gatherings can spark even better conversation and more enjoyment.
- Select seasonal reads: Think cozy mysteries for fall, travelogues for summer, and heartwarming stories for the holiday season.
- Invite authors: Many authors are happy to join book clubs via video calls — ask publishers for meet-and-greet opportunities as you build your reading list!
- Feature community members: Local historians and experts can bring great perspective to a discussion. (Example: November is Veterans Day… Why not choose a war novel or memoir and invite local veterans to share their own experiences?)
- Take a field trip: Even if it’s just a visit to the local library or independent bookshop, going places with your group is a great way to spice things up.
- Just add food: Whip up a batch of tiramisu if you’re reading a book set in Italy, or sample some favorite foods from an iconic author you’re reading (did you know Kurt Vonnegut loved candy bars?).
- Sponsor a book swap: Invite members to bring personal favorites from their home libraries and share with others to uncover hidden gems.
While there’s lots to consider, remember that you don’t have to build your book club on your own!
Lean on your library
Nearby libraries likely have experience to share from years of creating and supporting groups like yours.
You may even find a staff member eager to play a role in the success of a book club for seniors, like Vi at Lakeside Village’s book club found in Susan, a librarian at the Lantana Public Library. Susan would help select books, order them and keep them behind a special desk at the library for residents to pick up. Then she came to the community to lead the discussions in person.
”She would bring a PowerPoint with information about the author’s biography, present some reviews, and ask for our participation,” said Judy Miller, who is on Lakeside Village’s book club committee.
When Susan retired from the library, Miller stepped up to lead from her example.
Ask your senior living staff
If you live in a senior living community, collaborate with your lifestyle team. They likely help many resident clubs, including the book clubs:
- Scheduling meeting times
- Booking community locations
- Creating promotional flyers
- Signing out and returning library books
- Ordering coffee and cookies for each group
Starting a book club for seniors is a great way to stay connected with your community while getting swept up in your next favorite read.
Considering a new home — maybe even one filled with fellow bookworms and new friends? We’d love to tell you about life at Vi.
Glad to be connected!
There’s a lot to consider when embarking on the next phase of retirement—and contacting us is a big step. (Well done!)
We’ll be in touch soon to share expert insights and resident perspectives that we hope are helpful, and one of our team members will also be reaching out to answer any questions you may have.