Well-being starts from the inside. To improve your quality of life, start by examining your physical and mental health for happy aging. Seniors are particularly vulnerable to mental health issues; the CDC reported that 20% of older adults experience some mental health concern. From memory problems to cognitive decline and the growing loneliness epidemic, dealing with these problems on top of physical deterioration can be challenging to bear.
Luckily, seniors in their golden years have the time to focus on themselves finally. With parenting, financial and other responsibilities easing up, seniors can implement healthy habits for a peaceful and relaxing life. In this article, Picket Fence Home Care walks you through the essential pointers.
Keep the Mind Engaged for Mental Stamina
Just as the body needs stimulation to stay healthy and well-functioning, so too does the brain need activity to avoid cognitive decline. According to Harvard Health Publishing, brain games improve mental skills such as processing speed, memory, and decision-making ability. This, in turn, helps ward off early-onset Alzheimers, depression, and more.
Looking for some fun ways to keep the brain engaged? Learning a new language is an excellent option, as it exercises parts of the brain that are most affected by aging. Playing an instrument is another superb choice as music stimulates the brain and improves memory. BBC also writes that music triggers ‘happy hormones’ in the brain, enhancing overall mental well-being and satisfaction.
In addition, keeping occupied is a critical part of mental fitness. Many seniors choose to get into entrepreneurship after retirement, as they have the funds and time to do so. If you’re planning to become a small business owner, do lots of research on business operations and strategies. An essential element will be to create a DBA, or ‘doing business as’ name for your new company. Registering your doing business as name will make it easier to branch out into new services when the time arrives or market your services under a different domain.
Let’s Get Physical
You know what the doctors say about getting your 30 minutes of exercise in every day. Well, they say that for a reason – activities like walking, gardening, and swimming improve mood, reduce anxiety and take your mind off worries and concerns. Taking regular yoga classes, dancing lessons, and group workout classes are great ways to add some fun to exercise. Just try to ensure that the exercises are low impact, and you can occasionally throw some strength training in there too. With the proper exercise regimen in place, you’ll be able to reduce the incidence of bone fractures, joint pain, stress, anxiety, and depression.
Stay Connected
It is critical for older adults to stay in touch with the people they love and value to raise the feeling of value and quality in life. Feelings of isolation and loneliness can run rampant in later life, leading to declining through depression. Regularly keep in touch with old friends through apps like Skype, Zoom, and FaceTime, which make digital communication so much easier. Setting up a schedule for a good old-fashioned phone call is also helpful.
And if you find yourself dissatisfied, why not make new friends? A support network is critical for seniors, which is why businesses like Picket Fence Homecare are transforming the retirement game. With at-home non-medical care for companionship and support in daily tasks like shopping, housekeeping, bathing, and more, this service is perfect for seniors wishing to retain their independence while benefiting from social relations. In addition, you could attend senior meets at a community center near you or sign up for hobby or recreation classes to put yourself out there.
Addressing and treating mental and health concerns early reduces emotional and physical suffering down the line. By prioritizing self-care, seniors can seize back their life to not just survive but thrive. We hope this article helps you through your retirement – here’s wishing you happy health!
Looking to improve the mental, physical and emotional quality of your life? Picket Fence Home Care offers non-medical care for home-style compassionate, considerate, and kind support for all seniors.