Senior Stress Relief: 4 Ways to Combat & Relieve

Everyone deals with stress differently, which is okay as long as it’s a healthy way to cope. Turning to negative coping mechanisms, like alcohol consumption or poor eating habits, however, only cause more serious issues down the road. With today being National Stress Awareness Day, it is wholly appropriate to shed light on healthy ways to combat and relieve stress, especially for our beloved seniors.

#1. Meditation. Stress begins and ends with our minds. When we change the way we think, we’re inadvertently reducing our stress levels. One way to rewire our thought patterns is through meditation. Practicing meditation regularly can quiet a busy mind and help us become more present and in the moment. This can help reduce stress because when you are more focused on the present moment, there is less room to let the past affect your next move and worry about what’s going to happen in the future. At UMC at Collingswood, we have regular meditation and mindfulness classes available for all of our residents to attend on a weekly basis.

#2. Form Healthy Eating Habits. Some may not realize the impact our food has on our stress levels. When we eat too much food that lacks any real nutritional value, not only do our bodies suffer, our minds suffer as well. The mind and body need a lot of vitamins and nutrients on a daily basis to function opportunely. We recommend a low-carb diet that incorporates healthy saturated fats – this includes foods such as avocados, fish, chicken, nuts, eggs, and plenty of greens. However, the first thing that must be done to reduce stress is to cut out excess sugar! Sugar is easy energy that runs out fast and leaves us feeling almost “hungover.” Once you come down from the sugar high, that’s when stress and anxiety majorly kick in.

#3. Being Part of a Community. Everyone can go through moods and withdraw from social situations from time to time. However, it’s important that isolation doesn’t become a habit,  especially for seniors who are much more susceptible to more serious issues like anxiety and depression. Seniors who are a part of a community are much less likely to fall into social isolation as there are many staff members and other residents in close proximity to them each day. Being a part of a senior living community improves socialization through the many activities available on site – designed to bring residents together and keep them together through shared interests.

#4. Exercise. When it comes to exercise, it’s easy to forget that the mind benefits just as much as the body. Because exercise releases endorphins, those “feel-good” chemicals have a positive effect on the health of our brains. As we mentioned before, stress begins in the brain so exercising is directly linked to improving stress levels. A regular exercise routine is essential for every senior, and this could be made much easier if they reside in a senior community that has a fitness center available on site. Many senior communities like UMC have weekly exercise classes available as well like Zumba, chair yoga, and dancing.

Reduced stress for seniors in Collingswood

At UMC at Collingswood, we have trained associates, therapists, and other medical professionals available on site to help seniors reduce stress safely. Whether it’s through exercise classes, nutrient-rich meals, meditation, or another activity entirely, our team can modify health and wellness plans for each resident. We completely understand how stress can affect every senior differently, so we do everything possible to get to the root of the problem through meaningful connections and the many resources we have available on site.

For more information about our senior care services in Camden County, please give our team a call today or visit us at: https://umcommunities.org/collingswood