March is National Optimism Month and it’s the perfect time to help your senior loved one manage the symptoms of depression. A more optimistic outlook can help your senior parent’s physical and mental health. But it can be difficult for seniors that are battling depression to be optimistic. Having elder care services can help with some of these suggestions here.
Seniors can become depressed because of grief, because of their health struggles, or for any number of reasons. Helping your senior loved one has more optimism and fight the symptoms of depression won’t cure their depression but it can help manage the symptoms of depression and give them a happier life.
Some of the things seniors can do to manage the symptoms of depression include:
Exercise isn’t a cure-all, but it’s as close to one as seniors can get. Engaging in physical activity will help seniors keep their mobility. It can strengthen muscles and help seniors stay flexible. And it also will stimulate the production of endorphins in the brain. Endorphins are “feel good” molecules that make people happy after they exercise. And seniors don’t need to complete a tough workout to get the mental health benefits of moving. Taking a walk around the block or going for an easy bike ride can be enough movement to make seniors happier and more optimistic.
Seniors need social interaction. Not spending time with friends and family can cause physical and emotional healthy problems for seniors. Unfortunately many seniors spend huge chunks of time alone, which can damage their health. Elder care providers are a great option if you live far away from your senior loved one and can’t be with them in person often. Elder care providers can also spend a couple of hours each day with your senior loved one if you work full time and have trouble getting to see your senior parent during the day.
There’s just something about being outdoors in nature on a sunny day that will lift anyone’s mood. And since seniors are often deficient in Vitamin K, which is found in sunlight, getting outdoors can help them feel happier and more optimistic. Gardening, going for a walk, or even just sitting in the yard or on the porch while the sun is out can dramatically improve a senior’s mental health. If your senior has a yard take some time to fix it up and put some comfortable furniture out there so that your senior loved one will want to spend time out there.
When seniors are physically healthy they are more likely to be happy and optimistic. Seniors can’t control their health totally, but they can do some things to make sure that they are healthy as possible. Getting enough sleep, eating healthy meals, and drinking plenty of water are easy things that seniors can do to be more optimistic. Family caregivers should also be taking care of themselves physically to be more optimistic.
Source: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/older-adults-and-depression
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