Growing older doesn’t need to be a detrimental experience. Many seniors can thrive during their golden years by making smart health choices and practicing positive thinking.
Counseling and therapy are vital parts of living gracefully as we age, providing support during life transitions, depression and chronic illnesses. Counseling also provides a safe space where individuals can share difficult feelings or experiences without judgment from outside sources.
Some may mistakenly believe that mental decline is simply part of getting older, but it’s not. Mental decline can be caused by medication, disease, or lack of social activity – all factors which are outside your control. If you notice any changes in your ability to think, speak, or move, make an appointment with a counselor as they can identify what’s causing the change and provide tools that can improve your life.
Staying social is key to combatting loneliness and depression. Activities like meeting friends, joining clubs or groups, or online interactions are great ways to connect with people. Learning new skills – like reading books or doing puzzles – is another effective way of stimulating the mind – try reading, word or number puzzles, drawing or practicing an instrument can also help.
Loneliness and isolation can be an enormously distressful issue for older adults living alone or in humanitarian settings, making them vulnerable to depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions. One effective strategy to counter this phenomenon is making an effort to reach out to others and find activities that provide joyous stimulation.