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Senior Mental Health: Why It’s Important And How To Improve It

Over the past few years, mental health and wellbeing has become a more important topic within society, and the mental wellbeing of senior members of our community has become something that we are giving more thought and consideration to. Most of us want our older relatives to be as happy and as healthy as possible; nobody likes seeing their parents, grandparents or other beloved family members experiencing depression, anxiety, or other mental health problems. While mental health is very personal to each individual, some things that can often be helpful for seniors include:

Independence

While it is not unusual for seniors to struggle to do more things on their own as they get older, it’s important to try and make sure that they have as much independence as possible. Nobody would like the idea of their independence being taken away and feeling like they are no longer able to do things for themselves. Working with your relative to come up with a solution where they can retain their independence while having access to the support that they need, such as moving to assisted living Westwood, could be an ideal solution.

Mental Stimulation

For many seniors, boredom can play a part in declining mental health, particularly in situations where individuals are feeling lonely and isolated at home due to not being able to get out and do things as much as they might like to. Active brains are healthier brains, and having something to work on, or something new to learn can not only improve mental health and wellbeing in seniors, but also help to combat dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases of which there is a higher risk as we get older. Many seniors enjoy doing things like quizzes, Sudoku, sewing, knitting, puzzles, building models, growing things in the garden, decorating their homes, and other mentally stimulating tasks that will keep them feeling fulfilled.

Social Life

While everybody is different when it comes to how much social interaction they are able to tolerate, nobody is able to exist just by themselves. As humans, we are all social creatures and we need some social interaction to survive and thrive, which is why the COVID19 pandemic was so tough on seniors in particular as family members were advised not to visit to keep them safe from the virus. There are lots of things that seniors can do to enjoy a healthy social life including joining local clubs and groups, living in assisted living and retirement communities where they are surrounded by people, or even getting online.

Physical Activity

Exercise is good for our mental health at any age, so encouraging your senior relative to get more active can be a good idea. There are lots of exercises that are ideal for seniors as they are low-impact and gentler on the body, such as walking, swimming and yoga. Consider inviting them to exercise with you or helping them find senior exercise classes in their area.

Mental health and wellbeing is an important topic for anybody at any age, but it can be especially important for seniors who may have a higher risk of developing issues like depression.

Senior Mental Health: Why It’s Important And How To Improve It

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