Mental health and wellness is just as important as your physical health and wellness. This is no exception for seniors. In fact, maintaining good habits to help protect your mental health may be even more important to seniors than any other age group. This is because seniors, more than others, tend to suffer from bouts of depression, anxiety, and loneliness because of their new living situations. 

This is why having great senior living communities is so important. Not only are you or your senior loved ones surrounded by other seniors, they’re able to seek advice and information from experts who specialize in caring for people their age. They understand more intimately than anyone what exactly your senior needs to continue to live a long, fulfilling life. 

Not sure how you can get started on your mental health wellness journey? Here are a few ways that might be able to help:

 

1. Staying active

Staying active is one of the most important things you can do as a senior, whether you’re living in one of many senior living communities or you’re still living in your own home. It’s not a new concept – people of all ages from all backgrounds will often go outside for a walk or a run to clear their head, or enjoy a calming yet physically vigorous yoga or tai chi workout. 

This is for a good reason! When you exercise, it helps to boost your mood and helps to stave off some of the effects of depression. While exercise alone is not going to be a complete cure for depression, it’s an amazing way to help you get out of a rut or to feel a bit better when you’re having a rough day. 

Federal guidelines – according to the health.gov website – recommend that you get at least 150 minutes of exercise each week, which is about 20 minutes or so a day. For seniors, don’t worry if you don’t think you’re able to do strenuous activity for that long of a period. Any exercise is good exercise, whether you’re planning to take a leisurely walk with some friends or do some chair exercises because you struggle with your balance. The important part is getting up and getting active!

 

2. Maintaining a good diet 

Many senior living communities are wonderful for seniors to maintain a healthy diet because their meals are catered specifically to that situation. Dieticians and chefs come together at senior living communities to create specially curated meals for our senior loved ones to help them enjoy a delicious meal that’s good for them

However, if you’re living on your own and you’re struggling to figure out what to eat, then don’t worry. Try focusing on enjoying healthy foods like fruits, veggies, lean meats, poultry, and low-fat dairy. While there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a sweet treat or a bag of chips every now and then, you shouldn’t let that become the main part of your diet. Enjoy everything in moderation, and you’ll be amazed at how much that can benefit your mental health!

A cheerful senior couple prepare and eat healthy foods together
 

3. Keeping a booked social calendar 

Isolating yourself is never a good idea, especially if you’ve been feeling especially depressed or anxious. Seniors, more than any other age group, tend to suffer through feelings of isolation and loneliness, which can ultimately contribute to the decline of their physical health as well. 

If you’re a senior and you’re living apart from your family, they may not always be able to come over and visit as frequently as they’d like. This is one reason why living in a senior living community is an amazing way to keep involved and to be around other people, even when your family may be unable to. 

Senior living communities offer classes and clubs for you to get out and learn new hobbies or tricks that you may have never had the opportunity to learn before. Senior communities also offer events like card game nights, movie nights, and more that make for a great night out with friends in a way that’s easily accessible. Try checking out a few of these classes or events! You or your loved one might find something that you enjoy that you may have never thought of before. 

 

4. Doing brain teasers and games 

One of the quintessential pictures in many people’s minds of seniors is an older person who sits in a recliner watching the television all day. While there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a good show on TV or watching the news, that shouldn’t be the only entertainment you’re consuming, either!

Playing brain games like Sudoku or crossword puzzles is an incredible way to keep your brain active and stimulated, which in turn can help with boosting your mood. Or, if you aren’t really a big puzzle person, find a new book to read or enjoy an audiobook! These are fun tasks that can help to keep you engaged and can assist with alleviating some of the feelings of stress or anxiety you may have. Your brain will thank you, too!

 

Mental Health Support at Our Senior Living Communities 

Kingsley understands how difficult it can be for seniors to make the shift from living on their own to living at a senior living community. It’s a big adjustment to make in the later part of your life, and it’s understandable that many seniors truly struggle with the shift and may feel isolated and lonely. 

That’s why, here at Kingsley Senior Living Communities, we strive to make all of our senior living residents truly feel like they’re at their home away from home. With classes, events, and amazing amenities like a salon and fitness center, we hope that our senior residents are able to truly thrive in the environment that we’ve so carefully and lovingly crafted for them. 

If you or your senior loved one is considering the move into a senior living community, Kingsley would love to have you. Contact us and schedule a tour today to see if our community is the one you’ve been looking for!