Mental Health Awareness: 4 Ways to Improve Senior Well Being

World Mental Health Day falls on the tenth of this month and there’s no time like the present to draw awareness to senior mental health. In particular, seniors face mental health issues like anxiety, loneliness, and even depression more often. A lot of the time this is due to a lack of support, socialization, and activities in their current living situation. Fortunately, there are many ways that seniors can improve their mental well-being. We’ll start with this list compiled by our senior living associates from South Jersey.

#1. Spend more time with someone you love. Having something to look forward to is reason enough for seniors to get out of bed in the morning. Especially if that “something” includes someone they truly care about. If you see your senior loved one becoming a little more isolated, reach out and make plans with them, even if it’s just to go on an hour walk. Even better, make this a weekly tradition. It’s a great way to catch up and boost your senior loved one’s mental health.

#2. Become “one” with nature. Spending time in nature has been proven to strengthen mental health and even sharpen cognitive abilities. Being in nature improves your mood, memory, and stress level. Think about it, how many times has someone told you to take a beat and step outside when you’re stressing out? More times than we could count. Easy ways for seniors to spend more time in nature, include going on a scenic walk each day, taking up gardening or setting up bird feeders outside, and seeing what feathery friends come to visit!

#3. Learn something new or revisit an old pastime. One surefire way to lift your spirits is to spend more time doing something you actually love to do. It can be understandably intimidating to get back into a pastime you put on hold. You might hold yourself to a certain standard – however, it’s important to remember that this is for enjoyment only! Painting, playing an instrument or writing are all great outlets to tap into your creativity. Or you could always try something new – learning a new skill has been linked to a decreased risk of dementia in conjunction with boosting mental health.

#4. Play more games that challenge your brain. Did you know that puzzles and word games exercise both sides of the brain? The right side of the brain is responsible for creativity, while the left side controls logical and analytical thinking. Making it a point to exercise both sides of the brain on a weekly or even daily basis will help improve mental health and even short-term memory. Social connections also stimulate mental health boosts, which is just another great excuse to plan a weekly game night tradition with loved ones.

Seniors living happily in Collingswood, NJ

At UMC at Collingswood, our assisted living residents continue to live a full, independent, and happy life among people who share like-minded interests. We pride ourselves on fostering an environment in which residents can pursue their hobbies, while receiving the care they need. Both our associates and residents at Collingswood love to take part in “Movie Days,” weekly zumba sessions, art classes, and other fun activities that boost mental health and promote socialization within our community.

For more information about how we promote senior wellbeing at our community in Camden County, please call us today or visit our website at: https://umcommunities.org/collingswood/