Mental Health in later life
The wrinkles in the forehead of the elderly, loose and pale skin, and the crooked tooth – all mark that they have travelled a lot in life and seen a lot of changes. They have fought to get through all of it and acquire a dignified position for themselves in society. Some prosper quite well while the remains of dreams left unfulfilled, the road not taken adds another wrinkle to some of their foreheads.
Old age is a time the elderly wants to feel loved, pampered and taken care of. While on one side of the horizon, some keep spreading abundance of love, on another side, others seek an abundance of love. As with kids who need vigilance about their needs, so do the elderly.
There’s not much colour and excitement left for these elderly which leads to entering the loophole of hopelessness which at times might aggravate to loneliness or even depression. As a caregiver or a well-wisher, our job is to provide the maximum we can in those days when the elderly keep counting down to death.
With the onset of lifestyle changes, it is important to find the right share of love and the right thing to focus on.
Research shows five key issues impacting the mental health of the elderly:
- Discrimination
- Participation in meaningful activities
- Relationships
- Physical health
- Poverty
The things we, as a caregiver, might guide our elderly to focus on would be:
Finding the right person to talk to
Be it friends or family, therapist, a person they can rely on, a counsellor, or an impartial critic in their life, finding the right person to talk to can save a lot of energy that can otherwise boil up and manifest in other forms.
Talking about what keeps bothering the elderly with someone who is willing to listen might turn out to be helpful. Conversations do not always have to centre around problems. Revisiting good events, sharing life experiences may sometimes do wonders.
Some people want to keep their life low-key. It is important to understand that there is no harm in opening up and being vulnerable to life’s ups and down in front of people we trust. The point is to effectively communicate what bothers and what matters.
Making friends of different age groups alleviates the ineffectiveness of communication. Different generations have different perspectives about life. While talking to people of the same age helps understand life from a complementary mindset, talking to someone younger, for instance, brings back the spirit of life.
Plan early
There are some inevitable things that needs to be taken care of at old age:
- Retirement
- Staying active
- Pensions and financial conditions
- Taking charge of over own life
- Wills, end of life and funerals
Anticipating the inevitable saves a lot of time and unnecessary fury. Planning early helps in figuring out all the aspects of the problem or situation. Preparing the plan helps deal with the worries in advance.
Strategic planning, no doubt, is the most logical thing to do. But consciously planning for the little joy of life, the hobbies, quality time with family, enjoying leisure time is as important as the strategic planning.
Of course, not everything can be planned for and plans need improvising and amendment as situations alter.
Care for others
Caring doesn’t always have to be a one-way street, it can be made mutual. As we age, caring for others can strengthen those closely knitted bonds. Caring for people in our inner circle, partner, friend, neighbours or grandchildren can instil a sense of fulfilment in itself.
Helping others makes us feel needed and valued and also gives a boost to our self-esteem.
Staying active and maintaining the circadian rhythm
Regular physical activities and exercises have maximum benefit on both mental and physical health. It boosts self-esteem as well as confidence. Physical activities such as yoga and mindfulness prove to be meaningful activities and improve overall mental health.
Gardening, taking pets for a walk, being a part of the walking group, being a member of the laughing club are good ways to get some exercise.
Maintaining a healthy circadian rhythm is important as it allows the body and minds some good amount of rest, repair and energy.
Inadequate sleep leads to poor concentration. Low mood and irritability also creep up in the long run.
Sleep troubles, in the longer term, contribute to mental health problems such as anxiety, stress and depression. They also affect our immunity.
The practice of eating right
What we eat and drink affects how we feel. Apart from providing the right nutrients to the body, keeping it hydrated is important. Considering to limit the intake of sugary drinks, caffeine, and alcohol might be beneficial for the overall wellbeing.
Self-care
Doing things that one really enjoys and makes sense to oneself, not necessarily to others can help enhance the overall outlook towards life. Whatever we call them, interests, hobbies, past times, can provide a chance to socialise and find time for ourselves. It can also be developing an old skill or adopting a new one.
Companionship:
The world is technologically made compact leaving us with numerous opportunities to seek companionship with people across the world. It opens the door to explore a lot of things and virtually connect with anyone we wish to.
Despite that, the constantly changing world might make us feel left out. The elderly might feel that the values and attitudes they hold on to no longer find a place in the real world. However, it would be nice to find like-minded people from the younger generation still holding on to their beliefs.
Consider social life
Diversity in the social circle keeps the spirit moving. Consider volunteering with youth and chatting with friends from different age groups. A social circle or support group helps sail in through the difficult times swiftly. The elderly benefit from reconnecting with old friends whom they lost ties with long ago or resolving the tiff they had with someone from their past. It’s never too late to reconnect and can have a tremendously positive effect on your loved one’s health and wellbeing
To sum up, for a fulfilling old age, the focus is to be shifted on all of the things that make life meaningful and provide a sense of satisfaction. With detaching from work life, a new shift could be made to create an inner reformation and catch up with the things in the wishlist.