Right now, 14% of older people in the world suffer from some sort of mental health issue, including depression and anxiety disorders. Even more troubling is the fact that up to 27.2% of those who take their own lives are over the age of 60. As it stands, by 2030, one in six people in the world will be over the age of sixty, and that number will only continue to climb. All of this is to say that as we age, it’s vital to do everything necessary to maintain our mental health.
While the above numbers can seem scary, it’s because they are. The truth is that our mental health does deteriorate as we age. However, that doesn’t mean that once we turn sixty, it’s all over. Far from it! To paraphrase Winston Churchill, “Becoming a senior citizen is just the end of the beginning of our lives.”
Even though mental health can be more challenging to maintain as we age, it’s vital to remember that it’s not strictly a one-way street. In this blog, we’ll look at how you can boost your own mental health and that of people in your care. We’re not presenting cures for any adverse mental health issues, but we hope to provide a bit of a road map to help you and your loved ones live the best lives possible in your remaining years.
The Mental Health Challenges Faced by Seniors
Before we jump into the deep end, let’s first discuss some of the mental health challenges faced by seniors. Of course, as we are individuals who have had a diverse set of life experiences, it’s impossible to generalize. Having said that, there are unquestionably some universal challenges faced by all of us as we advance in an age that can wreak havoc on our mental health.
Emotional Impact of Aging:
Let’s not sugarcoat this. Getting older is not an easy thing. Our bodies don’t work the way they used when we were in our twenties. It can be frustrating to wake up with some new pain that you’re sure you didn’t feel the day before. Meanwhile, seeing photographs of ourselves in our youth can feel like we’re looking at a stranger or a fading memory. It’s not uncommon to find ourselves longing for our youth, wishing to relive good times, or cross a few more items off the bucket list. There comes a point in life where our memories become a bigger part of our lives than our dreams.
All of these feelings of loss and frustration take a heavy toll on our emotions, which can lead us down the road of depression, anxiety, loss, and regret. Those feelings can only be intensified if we’ve lost friends or loved ones along the way. At some point, as we get older, we find ourselves attending more funerals than birthdays.
Cognitive Decline:
As we all know, our brains change as we get older. Specifically, certain parts of the brain shrink, certain regions of the brain don’t communicate with each other as well as they used to as less blood travels to the area. All of these issues may lead to cognitive decline which affects our ability to remember commitments, learn new tricks, pay attention to conversations, and account for our actions. While the aforementioned issues can be problematic on their own, they can also negatively affect our mental health. It can be embarrassing to suddenly start forgetting things which, in turn, can lead to feelings of depression. To be clear, it’s not just age that affects cognitive decline; medications, injuries, and other factors play a part as well. It’s important to keep in mind that getting older doesn’t automatically mean things will get worse for your brain. It’s still possible for older adults to learn new skills and form new memories. The point is, all is not lost for your brain just because you’re getting older.
The Loneliness Epidemic:
Loneliness has proven to be very harmful to a person’s mental health as it can lead to a whole host of negative feelings in older adults, including depression, sleep issues, anxiety, hopelessness, substance abuse, and more. Daily interactions many of us take for granted, such as even chatting with a barista at Starbucks, can make all the difference. Sadly, many older adults lack the opportunity to engage in light conversation like that.Unfortunately, as much as loneliness affects anyone of any age, loneliness is a major problem facing older adults, especially in the United States. According to a report by the New York Times, roughly 27% of people aged sixty and older in the United States live alone. While that number may not seem too high, it’s also ten percent higher than the global average.
The Link Between Physical Health and Mental Health:
It’s not a secret that mental health and physical health are two sides of the same coin. You can find any number of studies that say getting exercise is good for your mental health, including something as simple as just taking a walk. While many aren’t getting the amount of exercise they should, some simply can’t exercise due to illness or other physical limitations that come with old age.
This situation can be incredibly frustrating, especially for people who used to exercise regularly. Lacking the benefits of exercise, many may start to feel depressed and have feelings of poor self-worth.
What are “Meaningful Activities and How Do They Help?”
What is a “meaningful activity”?
If you aren’t familiar with the term, according to the Dementia Services Development Center it’s an activity that provides emotional, creative, intellectual, and spiritual stimulation in an environment that is appropriate to the individual’s preferences and needs.
Some examples of meaningful activities could include:
Getting Creative!
Creative pursuits like painting, playing music, writing, pottery, building models, cooking, or any number of artistic outlets are a great way to express ourselves and focus our minds and bodies. Painting or drawing, for example, engages your hand-eye coordination, as does playing music, even if all you know how to play is a washboard. Along with stimulating the mind, they also provide a sense of accomplishment, which in turn boosts self-esteem. Taking an image from your mind and then translating it onto paper can be a challenge, but when it’s done, voilà! You did that! Keep in mind, just because you’ve never done a certain creative thing, don’t let that stop you! Have you always wanted to try pottery? Now’s the time!
Exercise for the body and brain:
Physical activity is one of those classic “win-win” activities. For those able to participate in any form of exercise, be it yoga, taking a walk, playing golf, or engaging in any other low-intensity exercise, it allows us to improve our physical/cardiovascular health. Doing so helps to reduce the risk of developing dementia as we get older. However, more than that, exercise has been shown to improve people’s moods and overall mental health. There is just something so relaxing about going for a walk on a bright sunny day.
Volunteering and Community Service:
It may shock you to know this, but volunteering and community service are among the best things you can do for your mental health. It’s true! By volunteering, you’re able to have a positive impact on your community as a whole. But also, giving back has been shown to reduce stress, depression, anxiety, and general illness, and that’s not all! Along with providing a great boost to your mental health, it also helps decrease the risk of heart disease and strokes. Plus, according to the Mayo Clinic, those who volunteer experience a lower mortality rate than those who don’t. Helping others helps you by giving a sense of purpose.
Social and Recreational Activities:
AAs mentioned a moment ago, loneliness, or being alone for long periods, is quite bad for your mental health. As such, social activities are a great way to combat those negative feelings. A few ideas might include joining a book club, playing bocci, join a regular card game, or becoming a member of a wine-tasting club. Thankfully, countless social activities are available at any given time, and if you can’t find one that appeals to you, don’t be afraid to create your own! Social activities like these are great because they allow you to fight off loneliness and feelings of depression and isolation while also potentially making new friends. Even better, if these social activities occur outside the home, you may even get some exercise during or on your way to the activity.
Lifelong Learning:
Education of all forms is always a net positive, and just because you’re in your golden years doesn’t mean you should stop learning. In fact, learning new things is good for your mental health! Research has shown that learning something new will help boost your confidence, improve feelings of self-esteem, and provide a sense of purpose. It’s great if you are able to take a class and socialize in person, but if not, there are plenty of online courses to help you learn something new from the comfort of your own home. Have you always wanted to learn a new language? Or become an expert on obscure pirate history? Maybe you want to learn a few new recipes? The world of education is quite literally your oyster.
One of the best things about the age we live in is how many doors technology has opened up to us. At virtually the speed of thought, you can open a web browser window and take a deep dive into any topic or reach out to a friend or family member half a world away. You can even mix and match your meaningful pursuits. It may be a surprise to learn that certain video games provide excellent learning opportunities. Ever wanted to visit the famous library in Alexandria, Egypt? A video game like Assassin’s Creed Origins allows you to do just that! Other games in the series, like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, allow players to take a painstakingly recreated walk through Ancient Greece and learn about the culture of the civilization. If you aren’t interested in the game itself, both Origins and Odyssey provide in-game walking tours so you can take your time and learn at your own pace. Plus, video games are proven to be very beneficial for mental health because they engage the brain and require hand-eye coordination!
Overcoming Barriers to Participation
If you’re concerned that you won’t be able to participate in any meaningful activities we’ve mentioned, don’t be discouraged! You can still overcome them with a will and a bit of creativity. How? We’re glad you asked!
Physical Limitations:
As we age, many of us will experience mobility issues for a number of reasons. Thankfully, exercises like tai chi or yoga are very healthy without being too physically taxing. Many activities, including exercising, can be done without leaving your chair or bed. Whatever you do, be sure to go at your own pace.
Limitations due to poor mental health:
As much as meaningful activities are beneficial for us, mental health issues like anxiety, depression, or lack of motivation can keep us from participating in those helpful activities. People will sometimes stop themselves from trying something new simply because they fear being negatively judged by someone more experienced. “I don’t want to take a cooking class– people will make fun of me. I’ll just hold up the lesson, and the teacher will get mad,” for example. All of these are very valid fears.
In scenarios like this, keep in mind that everyone was a beginner at some point. That goes for athletic, creative, or social activities. Even the best in the world at what they do knew nothing at the start. They became the best because they didn’t give up. If you lack motivation to participate in any given activity because you’re feeling depressed or may be intimidated for some other reason, remember how much you might enjoy the activity you’re considering. Better yet, call up a friend or family member and have them join you. In the end, you’ll more than likely feel better. Also, suppose you or the person in your care need additional motivational help. In that case, online psychologists are always available for therapy online or perhaps even phone counseling.
Geographical limitations:
It’s understandable that this one can frustrate a lot of people. If you happen to live in a small town, you may not have access to certain classes or social activities that people in bigger cities do. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck; in many cases, all you need is an internet connection and a phone/tablet/laptop to connect with any number of online games and communities almost no matter where you are in the world. Never forget that necessity is the mother of invention! In other words, don’t be afraid to try to organize an event yourself. For example, you could organize a food drive or start a club that sews quilts for unhoused people and run it right from your home. Any activities that allow you to help your community while being active and social can be incredibly beneficial.
Conclusion: The Transformative Power of Meaningful Activities
As we have discussed, meaningful enterprises and participating in creative activities with a purpose can do wonders to improve the mental health of seniors. They can provide a great sense of accomplishment, belonging, and self-worth while potentially allowing you to help your community. Even more importantly, meaningful activities help to keep things like anxiety, depression, and loneliness at bay. We want you to have the best mental health possible in your golden years. Hopefully, some of these tips mentioned will help you do just that!
