Did you know that social connections are the key to a long and happy life, with seniors boosting their longevity by as much as 50% when they have strong friendships?
Community and friendship is exactly what Slidell, LA, offers. This charming, close-knit town is the ideal backdrop for those looking for an active and fulfilling retirement, where wellness comes first.
At SummerHouse Park Provence, we understand this, which is why our range of activities includes programs that support emotional and mental health. Read on to discover how practices like mindfulness for depression can help keep seniors healthy and happy.
Depression in Older Adults: The Risks
While depression can often leave a person feeling alone and isolated, it’s a surprisingly common condition, and many older people experience symptoms of depression. Nevertheless, it’s not a normal part of aging, and when symptoms strike, you need to take action to manage them.
Common reasons for depression in seniors include:
- Declining health or health worries
- Social isolation
- Loss of a close friend or spouse
Depression can have a profound impact on everyday life. It can leave you with less sleep, or it might make you feel disengaged from other people. For some, depression can leave you feeling lethargic and irritable, interfering with your ability to enjoy everything on offer in a senior living community.
Mindfulness, Emotional Health, and Protecting Against Depression
If you haven’t tried mindfulness before, you might think of it as a calming and quiet activity. There is some truth in that, but it’s not the entire story. Mindfulness can actually support mental and emotional health, reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Learning how to focus the mind and stay in the present helps practitioners control their thoughts, which can make it easier to deal with symptoms such as stress and anxiety.
There are specific techniques you can learn, like how to control your breathing, which can help regulate emotions. Regular practice enables seniors to be more emotionally resilient, which can help protect against mental health conditions such as stress, anxiety, and depression.
Mindfulness for Depression: Being in the Present Moment
When you try mindfulness exercises in a group setting, your instructor will guide you through techniques that help you stay in the present moment. That’s a powerful tool for those with depression, because it can help shift thoughts away from worries about the future or regrets about the past.
Instead, seniors can focus on the present time and how to relax and enjoy their surroundings, whether a wave of negative thoughts continues to interfere with their day.
Mindfulness has other benefits that can also support those with depression. Techniques like guided meditation in care support teams can help seniors lower stress and improve emotional well-being.
Daily Routines and Mindfulness for Aging Adults
Getting into the habit of mindfulness practices like gratitude and slow breathing can give you tools to help manage your day.
Seniors can rely on these techniques during a low moment when the symptoms of depression seem strong. For example, they may choose to head out into the landscaped gardens at SummerHouse Park Provence to observe nature and enjoy a slow walk in the fresh air. Or they might try a meditation routine before bed after a difficult day to help fight insomnia.
The beauty of mindfulness practices is that you can do them anywhere, and you don’t need special or expensive equipment. So once you know the techniques, they will always be part of your armor to protect you from some of the difficult symptoms of depression.
Depression Support for Elderly People: Instructor-Led Classes
One of the advantages of independent living in a community is that you have access to a schedule of programs and activities. Take advantage of these because there are benefits from instructor-led mindfulness techniques that you might not get when trying them alone.
Guided sessions help provide some structure, and the instructor will be able to work with you to improve some of your techniques, like breathing, to help you get more from each exercise.
You also get to interact with others. These small, daily social connections are a vital part of emotional health, as they reduce the risk of isolation, which in itself can put you at higher risk of depression.
Memory Care Wellness: Living in a Calm, Supportive Environment
The environment is of equal importance to technique when using mindfulness to manage depression.
Our memory care seniors benefit from the calming, serene environment we offer at SummerHouse Park Provence. We have large, tranquil spaces where you can unwind or reflect, like our library, gardens, and in-house religious spaces.
Our tasteful interiors with light, neutral colors help bring a sense of calm when you want to unwind and reduce your stress levels. The community atmosphere also means you have people around to connect with, including our friendly team, which can give you much-needed support if symptoms of depression are making you feel isolated.
Slidell, LA: The Ideal Setting for Wellness
The peaceful community of Slidell in Louisiana is perfect for those seeking a relaxing retirement. We are located near Lake Pontchartrain, nestled in the center of this friendly small-town location. So you have ample opportunity to explore nearby attractions, such as:
- Camp Salmen Nature Park
- Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge
- Nearby bistros and boutiques
You could try a mindfulness session when out walking on a gentle hike. Or maybe try some meditation while taking in the beautiful views of Lake Pontchartrain.
Senior Emotional Health and Family Involvement
Along with using mindfulness as a way to protect against depression, it’s also vital that our community team takes a look at the bigger picture. That’s why we remain connected with the loved ones of our residents.
We can talk about preferences, routines, and potential health issues so that seniors can get the best support possible. We can also help put together a schedule of activities, including mindfulness sessions to help manage depression symptoms.
SummerHouse Park Provence: Putting Senior Wellness First
There are many ways to look after your mental health in your later years, and mindfulness for depression is an excellent technique to learn. That’s why SummerHouse Park Provence creates a range of wellness programs to ensure our residents feel good, inside and out.
Take a tour today to experience our community first-hand. With our proximity to charming town life and nature, it’s somewhere you can connect with others and unwind.
