Mental Wellness Strategies for Senior Citizens

Seniors face unique challenges when it comes to maintaining their health and wellness. Our assisted living program ensures that our residents are meeting their daily physical needs, like grooming and eating. What about their daily mental needs?

Senior mental wellness encompasses everything from mood to cognition. What senior mental health services are available in Vineland, NJ? What elderly mental health strategies can you employ from the comfort of your home?

We're here to share our top senior cognitive health tips. Read on to discover holistic methods to support your mood and cognition.

Physical Activities for Mental Wellness

According to a study referenced by UCLA, people who get two to three 45-minute sessions of physical activity per week exhibit better mental health.

While this includes exercises like jogging and weight lifting, it also includes activities like completing household chores. In other words, increasing your movement can have a positive impact on your mental health.

Modifying Exercise for Disabilities

Increasing daily exercise isn't always easy for seniors, especially those with disabilities that impact mobility. Fortunately, there are many low-impact exercise options, such as:

Seated yoga
Chair calisthenics
Swimming
Walking
Light weightlifting

Our senior wellness program includes senior-friendly exercise classes. Our instructors work hard to provide modifications to make physical fitness more accessible.

Social Engagement and Mood

A study published by the National Library of Medicine found that socialization has a positive impact on mood. More specifically, it can lower the risk of depression while improving life satisfaction. Here are a few ways that you can incorporate social time into your daily routine.

Community Participation

At Baker Place Assisted Living, our robust activity calendar creates ample opportunities to connect with neighbors. Some resident favorites include:

Game nights
Guided arts and crafts
Music classes

By offering a variety, we guarantee that there's something for everyone. Residents can attend activities every day to visit with friends.

Keeping Up With Friends and Family

When you move to a new environment, it's important to make new connections and maintain existing connections. Keep up with friends and family by:

Inviting loved ones to visit
Communicating with long-distance loved ones via video chat
Making arrangements to see family for the holidays

Creating meaningful memories is one of the best well-being strategies for elders, so don't hesitate to include friends and family in your life at Baker Place.

Stress Reduction and Senior Mental Health

Prolonged stress can lead to feelings of anxiety and depression. If you find stress creeping up day to day, give these stress reduction methods a try.

Meditation and Breathing Exercises

Meditation is a powerful tool that brings your mind and body into the present moment. With practice, meditation can allow you to let go of stressful thoughts and achieve a state of calmness.

To get started, try practicing breathing exercises in a quiet location, like your bedroom. Focus on the sound and sensation of your breath for a few minutes, deepening each inhale as much as you can.

Mindfulness Activities

Mindfulness seeks to achieve the same goal as meditation: to bring you into the present moment. Examples of mindfulness activities include:

Humming along to music
Coloring or painting a picture
Taking a walk in nature

Some seniors prefer mindfulness activities over meditation because they incorporate a bit of gentle movement, which can make it easier to stay focused.

Mental Wellness Exercises for Seniors

So far, we've focused on techniques to support your mood and keep mental health disorders at bay. What about activities that boost senior brain health? Here are a few ways that you can support cognitive health, as supported by research published by the Library of Medicine.

Getting Into the Flow State

The flow state refers to the ability to stay focused on and absorbed in a specific task. Sharpening your concentration skills is a great way to support your cognitive health, and it can be a lot of fun. For example, you can work toward achieving the flow state by:

Playing board games or computer games
Working on an art project or craft
Reading an interesting book

Set aside at least 30 minutes a day to dedicate to your activity of choice. If possible, reduce distractions so you aren't interrupted.

Building Neural Pathways Through Learning

Another great way to boost your brain health is by learning something new. You can double your benefits by learning in a group setting. For example, you can:

Take a language learning class
Join a book club
Attend lectures on subjects that interest you

At Baker Place Assisted Living, residents can make use of common areas across campus to meet with neighbors and engage in opportunities to learn.

Professional Senior Mental Health Services

What if you're struggling with serious or chronic mental health problems? If so, it may be time to seek senior mental health services beyond the ideas we've shared above.

Professional Therapy

Consider working with a licensed therapist who specializes in senior mental health. Depending on the type of therapy you pursue, therapy can provide you with opportunities to:

Heal from past trauma
Address current concerns
Find new ways to think about stressors

Many seniors find comfort in sharing their thoughts and worries with someone other than a friend or family member.

Medical Support

It's important to involve your doctor in conversations about mental health. Don't hesitate to mention any changes in your:

Mood or sense of well-being
Cognitive abilities
Quality of sleep

Remember, the mind is just as important as the body. Your doctor may recommend specific medications or treatments to support your mental health.

Embrace Wellness at Baker Place Assisted Living

When you move into a community like Baker Place Assisted Living, you'll receive the support you need to live a happy, healthy life. That includes increased access to senior mental health services and programs that can support your mood and cognitive functioning.

At Baker Place Assisted Living, we pride ourselves on our ability to create a true community for our residents. Our world-class amenities, from our dining program to our daily activities, turn neighbors into friends and support systems. Schedule a tour to find out if Baker Place Assisted Living is right for you.