Skip to main content

Stress Reduction Tips for Seniors

Stress Reduction in Seniors -banner

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed life for everyone, everywhere. The fear of getting infected, living in a lockdown state, and in isolation is increasing stress among people of all age-groups. Along with daily stressors, coronavirus is adding to the woes of people. The older adults who are vulnerable are also experiencing increased stress. Other than the age-related stress issues like health concerns, financial planning, and loss of a loved one, in present times, elderly are looking for a silver lining in the dark clouds.

April being the stress awareness month, let us get an insight into causes, symptoms, and ways to mitigate stress in the elderly. Often referred to as the “fight or flight response” of the body, if you notice any of the below signs, then you can be in a stressed state.

Signs of Stress in Elderly

  • Constant worrying
  • Irritability
  • Problems with digestion
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Increase in bodily aches and pains
  • Frequent headaches
  • Difficulty concentrating

Health Concerns Related to Stress

The continuous exposure to stress can leave a chronic effect on your life, impacting the performance of various internal organs down to the cellular level. The common health concerns related to chronic stress include

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Heart Disease
  • Headaches
  • Diabetes
  • Asthma
  • Gastrointestinal issues
  • Alzheimer’s disease

In the wake of the coronavirus spread, addressing stress-related issues is more crucial than ever before. Eliminating the stress-causing factors may not be possible; however, learning how to control stress reactions to alleviate the body’s response needs immediate attention.

Ways to Reduce Stress

There are various ways to mitigate stress and some of the effective ones, which you can try during the lockdown period include

Meditate & Become Mindful: During these stressful times, meditation and mindfulness can go a long way in dealing with anxiety. It will help you feel calmer and more relaxed.

Pro Tip: Start meditating every day for 10 to 15 minutes. If you are a beginner, you can try meditation lighting incense sticks or calming music to develop a habit of meditation.

Exercise & Stay Active: Exercising can improve your immunity level and reduce the stress level significantly. So, start exercising and draw physical and cognitive benefits. Working out increases the lung capacity, bone density, muscle strength, and overall longevity. Besides, it also improves your brain health. A study by the University of Illinois suggests that a moderate level of activity works on improving overall cognitive health as well.

Pro Tip: Start with 20 to 30 minutes of every workout in your home balcony or garden. It can be the perfect way to start your day. During this lockdown phase, if you can practice yoga and deep breathing exercises, you will benefit from clear lung airways and improved immunity. However, perform pranayama and exercises after consulting your doctor. Besides, workout under supervision or do it only if you already know these exercises.

Eat Healthy; Avoid Sugar: Now that you are home confined, it is the perfect time to cook light and nutritious meals. A diet rich in essential vitamins and minerals can help your body to function optimally. Introduce fresh fruits and salads for snacks. Avoid indulging in junk and packaged food, especially food containing a high percentage of sugar and salt.

Pro Tip: Eat Omega-3 fatty acids in the morning like a teaspoon of mixed seeds to keep the sweet cravings at bay.

Socialise from a Distance: It is social distancing that is the need of the hour, not social boycott. You can virtually connect with your friends and family across the globe and spend a substantial part of your day socialising. Make the most of technology and socialise while maintaining a distance. When you are socially connected, you tend to feel engaged and comforted.

Talk It Out: If you are unable to discuss the stressors with your friends and family, then look for professional help. You can connect with a psychologist over a phone call and benefit from teleconsultation. Sometimes it is ideal to talk to someone who has no background about your life concerns and issues. Besides, when you connect with an expert, you can get professional advice.

However, if you long for that someone who can give professional advice with a personal touch, then Samvedna Senior Care is a name on which you can rely. Evolved for the benefit of seniors, we know negative thinking and depression are detrimental for older adults. Our team of adroit professionals are there for you, even amidst the coronavirus crisis. We are offering online counselling, telemedicine consultation, and remote eldercare support. Don’t worry if your children are not in the city with you; we are here for you even now. Connect with us, discuss your concerns, and give us a chance to serve you. Elders have a special place in our society and every Indian home, we understand and know these values. If you need that personalised counselling session, then let a Samvedna Senior Care specialist serve you and bid adieu to your stress causing factors forever.



from Samvedna Senior Care https://ift.tt/2VkZyjU
via IFTTT
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

For Family Caregivers, A New Year’s Resolution Can Inspire Your Best Year Yet

If you are among the 8% of Americans who actually accomplish their New Year’s resolution goals , well done! However, if you are like the majority of us, you’ve given up prior to even turning the calendar page to February. Although it is undoubtedly commendable to attempt to better ourselves by resolving to lose 10 pounds or with healthier living, for busy family caregivers, there are truly meaningful, achievable goals that will improve life all through the year. Consider these recommendations: Find joy. Looking after somebody else is a labor of love, but can also bring about challenges, which makes it hard to concentrate on the daily benefits that spark joy. Devote some time on a daily basis to pause and discover a reason to smile. Bring a sense of humor to your daily caregiving tasks, sharing laughter together with your loved one. Enjoy the feeling of the sunlight shining through the window as you’re folding laundry. And make time to call someone who lifts your spirits for a brief...
Post a Comment
Read more

Dads and Pops: Your Good Health Matters to Us 

Did you know  June is  Men’s Health Month  and Father’s Day anchors Men’s Health Week ?   Celebrate dad on Father’s Day and thank him for all he  has  done, but  also  make sure to seize an opportunity sometime this month to have a conversation with him about his health. This awareness campaign has the critical purpose of informing men   that avoiding preventive healthcare puts them at real and serious risk of  contracting a disease or  acquiring  a chronic condition.   Studies consistently  show the numbers go against men , particularly as they advance into their senior years.   Even with dramatic advances in diagnosis and treatment over the past 100 years, men’s life expectancy still lags significantly behind women. According to  Harvard Health ,  the gap is widening. In 1900, the life expectancy for women was 48.3 years vs. 46.3 for men. In 2017, it was 81.1 years for women vs. 76.1 for men. Harvard...
Post a Comment
Read more

How Does Caregiving Stress Affect Your Career?

Lots of caregivers believe that the stress they experience as a part of caregiving is something that they only experience in that situation. But stress doesn’t care where you are or what you’re doing. If you ignore it, you’ll find the effects of stress following you even to your career and that can be bad for multiple reasons. Stress Is Everywhere Stress is a normal part of life. It’s literally everywhere and it takes the form of both “good” stress and “bad” stress. So-called good stress makes you alert to dangers and can keep you from making mistakes that could prove harmful to you. Bad stress is stress that takes a toll on you mentally and physically. It’s a result of being hypervigilant for too long. Stress Doesn’t Stay in Categories Something else to understand about stress is that it doesn’t stay boxed up neatly. Your stress as a caregiver will flow into the rest of your life, including your career and your other relationships, unless you take steps to manage it appropriat...
Post a Comment
Read more