Even though retirement offers an opportunity to rest after decades of working, it should be enjoyed responsibly. Aging adults don’t want to go from being active to living a sedentary lifestyle. They need to improve their mental health, as it’s linked with other aspects of their lives.
These are a few mental wellness tips for aging adults in senior living in Durham, NC:
Maintain Physical Activity
Aches and pains are expected as we age, but these might stop many from engaging in physical activity. Engaging in physical activities is beneficial to the mental and physical health of your loved one. Some hormones responsible for making a person happy are secreted during exercises. Therefore, it’s essential that your loved one incorporates exercise as part of their weekly routine. The exercises can be low impact, as their body can’t take as much. It doesn’t have to involve weightlifting, it can be an evening walk, or even a little work in the garden.
Maintain Healthy Relationship
A healthy and strong overall well-being in aging adults happens mostly when they maintain a strong, healthy bond with their family members. This prevents isolation, makes them feel supported, and improves their mental health. In addition to maintaining a healthy bond with family, aging adults should also create a relationship with friends. Having friends will keep them involved in the community and have someone to support them. Even if your loved one doesn’t have friends, they can make new friends in the retirement community.
Purposeful Life
According to various studies, a sense of purpose is associated with living a happy, fulfilled, satisfying life. In addition, having something to look forward to reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other cognitive impairments. Your loved ones can find purpose easily in retirement communities, because they have activities and events to instill a sense of purpose. These activities can include volunteering, outreaches, charities, and many more.
Stress Management
Aging adults face many difficulties daily, and the most important thing is dealing with them. This is because stress is unavoidable in humans, it can only be managed. Once your loved one notices they’re stressed, relaxation techniques are an excellent stress management option. They can take a hot bath, spend time outdoors, and listen to their favorite music. Other useful techniques include exercising, socializing, and engaging in their hobby.
Be Optimistic
A positive outlook and optimism are practices that every aging adult needs to embrace. Aging adults who maintain a positive attitude while going through stress have a lower risk of developing mental complications due to stress. Attitude is important in all we do. Therefore, aging adults should avoid self-blame by all means. Regardless of your loved one’s situation, having a positive attitude toward life is physically and mentally rewarding.
Pick up a New Interest
Your loved one should avoid a sedentary lifestyle and maintain an active lifestyle after retiring. They should see retirement as a perfect time to explore and do things they always wanted to do. Your loved one can revisit old hobbies, or pick up a new one. It can be baking, cooking, gardening, or sewing, as long as it keeps them active.
