During this time of year, it can be difficult to find your happiness, especially for senior citizens. Programs offered in senior care can help combat those feelings tremendously. Whether it is through support groups, social interaction, companion care, professional wellness sessions, cuddle therapy, or a plethora of other activities, modern senior care is making great strides in combating feelings of depression for the elderly. By having a variety of programs and services available at people’s fingertips, happiness won’t be hard to find after all.
Support System
Support groups are a great way to have fun while enjoying benefits to your mental and physical health. It is crucial to make sure that the senior care company you are looking into for yourself or your loved one recognizes the value in support groups and offers them on a regular basis. According to MayoClinic, the benefits of support groups include, “improving your coping skills and judgment, talking openly and honestly about your feelings, (and) reducing distress, depression, anxiety or fatigue.” Support groups offer various therapeutic benefits, while also serving as a great means to meet new people and feel a sense of belonging within your community.
Therapy Programs
Seniors can benefit in a major way from therapy programs, and that is why it is so important that senior care facilities implement them. Apart from talk therapy, there is also art, music, and cuddle therapy that all can help improve the overall well being of senior citizens. According to experts referenced in a post by the New York Times, “seniors generally have a higher satisfaction rate in therapy than younger people because they are usually more serious about it.”
Professional Counseling
Allowing seniors the opportunity to talk to a trained professional, who is able to hear them out and guide them appropriately, is a crucial aspect of proper senior care. According to the American Psychological Association, “As the Baby Boomers become older adults over the next several years, one can expect both the need and the demand for mental health services to increase.” Whether coordinating with outside sources or providing on-site counselors, the elderly can benefit a lot from having this outlet made available to them.
Caregiver Relationships
The caregiver relationship that senior citizens have at home or in a care community is extremely important because it is the one person they are certain to interact with on a regular basis. On the surface, they assist seniors in medication administration, bathing, and provide any other assistance that residents need to complete daily tasks. However, the exceptional ones also become a trusted friend for seniors to open up to and create a relationship with. Our Vice President of Resident Services and Program Development, Lesa Scott, explains, “We understand the struggles that senior citizens face on a daily basis. That is why we only employ certified and registered caregivers who have proven themselves as experts in senior care. The relationship between a senior resident and their caregiver is sacred and one that we do not take lightly at Spring Hills.” Exemplary caregivers serve as a resource for senior citizens to help them with assistance and provide companionship; leading to more fulfillment in their day-to-day life.
Self-Reflection
When it comes to being happy, it really must come from within. Taking time to put yourself first is vital to the health and well being of everyone. It is important for people, including the elderly, to look inward and remind themselves of what made them happy at different points in their life. Reflecting on those experiences and sharing them with your care provider helps allow your senior care company to create a daily routine that is tailored to your individual needs. You can read more about an individualized approach to senior living that provides a truly independent and holistic lifestyle for the elderly.
When feelings of depression, anxiety, and loneliness come around, these methods allow you to fight them off in a healthy way. The modern-day senior living company should be expected to provide opportunities for the elderly to reap the benefits of all programs available to them. At Spring Hills Senior Communities, we are proud to offer all of these services and more for our senior residents and clients to “find their happy.”