Whether you have an older relative or an elderly friend who you care about, their mental health might be a top concern for you. As people get older, they are often more prone to mental health concerns such as depression or anxiety due to poor physical health, being unable to take part in the activities that they once enjoyed, or simply being lonely. The good news is that with the right support in place, people of all ages can continue to enjoy a full and satisfying life that is good for their mental health. If you want to help an older relative or friend enjoy better mental health, some of the main things to focus on are:
Independence
For many older people, independence is the most important thing when it comes to improving their mental health. Nobody likes to feel that they are relying too much on others or are unable to do things without support all the time. It’s ideal to find strategies that help your friend or relative do as much as they can independently while making sure that they know help is available should they need it. A good option for this is senior living Dallas, where seniors have their own home and space, with caregiving employees on site for support if necessary.
Physical Activity
Staying active as we get older is not only important for keeping physically fit and healthy, but it can also be one of the best habits to get into for our mental health and wellbeing too. There are plenty of ways that you can encourage an older friend or relative to get more active such as inviting them out for a walk. Remember that it doesn’t have to be a vigorous or tiring activity to be beneficial.
Social Life
An active social life is key to keeping seniors happy and healthy. Being isolated and lonely is one of the most common causes of mental health complaints in older people, so one of the most important things that you can do is make sure that they are spending ample time with family or friends. One of the simplest yet most effective things that you can do is simply visit and spend time with them as often as you can.
Hobbies and Interests
Just like anybody, spending time on hobbies and interests is always going to be a good thing when it comes to the mental health and well-being of an older person. Whether you encourage them to spend more time doing something that they have always enjoyed, offer to accompany them if they have been having trouble doing it alone, or encourage them to learn a new skill or do something that they have always wanted to do but never got the chance to, retirement and the later years of our lives can be a great time to dedicate to interests and hobbies.
Mental health can decline for many reasons as we get older. If you care for an older relative or friend, there are lots of things that you can do to encourage them to do the things they enjoy and improve their mental health.