Five Fun Ways to Reduce Stress as a Senior
The effects of stress impact mental and physical health. Elderly men and women are already experiencing lowered cell turnover and changes in the cardiovascular system due to hormonal changes that come with aging.
When senior citizens become stressed, stress hormones may not diminish as quickly. It can affect the ability to concentrate, make decisions, and pay attention. Stress can interrupt sleep cycles, lead to stress headaches, and make seniors moody.
Homecare Media PA – Five Fun Ways to Reduce Stress as a Senior
Here are some fun ways seniors can reduce stress.
Adopt a Pet
Pets can help ease stress. Adopting a cat and dog is the best way to add a pet to your family. If that’s not possible, your mom or dad could volunteer to walk and play with dogs or spend time with cats at a local shelter.
Bake Bread
Baking bread offers many benefits. Kneading and pounding dough is a good way to relieve tension and stress. It also gives the arms a workout. When the bread is done baking, the smell of the bread is soothing. Plus, there’s food that doesn’t contain preservatives or chemicals.
Exercise
Exercise doesn’t have to be a drag. If your mom or dad can find an activity they love, exercise is great at reducing stress. They shouldn’t limit themselves to typical fitness programs like aerobics or running. They could play tennis, go orienteering, ride a bike, or go swimming. Gardening and walking are other activities that provide exercise and reduce stress.
Have a Lazy Day
It’s okay to have a lazy day every now and then. If your mom and dad want to sleep in and stay in pajamas all day, it’s beneficial to relax every now and then. If you find your parents are always staying in pajamas, rarely getting out of bed, and not showering, you should talk to their doctor about the symptoms of depression. For most people, a day here and there that’s spent lounging around the house can be revitalizing.
Read a Book
Getting lost in the plot of a story is another good way to de-stress. A gripping story line can take the reader to a new place or time period. Even if the escape is only for a few hours, it can help ease tension and gain a refreshed viewpoint.
Sometimes stress is caused by having too many challenges. If your parents struggle with activities of daily living, bring in outside help. A homecare professional can take over harder tasks like cooking meals, driving a car, or washing and drying dirty clothing. Call our homecare agency to learn more.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Homecare Services in Media PA, please contact the caring staff at True Direct Home Health Care today.
Doc, as he is called by everyone - staff, patients and clients - first experienced home health care and hospice care while as a colleg student at King's College as he cared for his mother every day while she first battled COPD and then lung cancer. It was during this time that he came to understand that caring for a patient was more than just clinical expertise.
"Admittedly, my strongest attribute is my communication skills and the simple fact that I love to help people. Even the smallest thing you can do for someone really can mean so much to them long term. In fact, it could change them forever. That's what providing quality personal home health care should be all about."
In his spare time, he cooks for homeless shelters and children's music and arts events. He also is highly involved in his local youth sports soccer academy as a coach and Board member.
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