How to Help Older Adults Cope with Stress
Although it’s difficult to provide an exact number of older adults who experience stress, it is a common experience for many older adults. Stress among older adults is often a result of health problems, financial concerns, changes in living arrangements, loss of a spouse or close friend, and physical and emotional changes related to growing older.
Stress itself can cause a variety of health concerns in older adults. Chronic stress raises levels of cortisol, a hormone associated with elevated blood pressure. It increases inflammation, which can irritate the stomach, causing heartburn, indigestion, constipation, and diarrhea. Stress increases an older adult’s risk of heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. It can also result in emotional and mental challenges for aging adults, putting them at a higher risk for dementia or depression.
April is National Stress Awareness Month. Older adults must learn to cope with stress to stay healthy and enhance their quality of life. Here are a few tips to help older adults cope with stress.
Exercise Daily
Exercise reduces stress by affecting both the body and the mind. It increases the production of endorphins, natural mood-boosting chemicals in the brain, and decreases the levels of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. Additionally, exercise can help to clear the mind, improve focus and cognitive function, and reduce anxiety and depression. Older adults should include exercise in their daily routines. The Centre of Elgin offers a variety of group exercise classes for active older adults. Another place older adults can find group exercise classes is through the local YMCA.
Practice Meditation
Meditation is a relaxation technique that aims to keep you in the present moment. It calms the mind, reducing the mental chatter and racing thoughts that contribute to stress and anxiety. The practice also encourages deep breathing and physical relaxation, which can help reduce muscle tension and lower levels of stress hormones. Older adults who practice meditation regularly experience greater self-awareness and increased focus and concentration. Check out a breathing and chair yoga class through the YMCA. Older adults who want to dive deeper into meditation can book private meditation instruction at Still Life Meditation.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Our diets can significantly impact our stress levels and overall well-being. Older adults who stress-eat put themselves at risk for excessive weight gain, diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic health conditions. Cope with stress by eating a healthy diet. A well-balanced diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can help to reduce stress and promote overall health. If you’re stressed about where your next meal is coming from because you are homebound or you cannot prepare your meals, you may qualify for Meals on Wheels. Kane Senior Council provides meal delivery services to a large number of cities located throughout Kane County.
Reduce Caffeine Consumption
Many seniors don’t recognize the negative effects of caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant that can increase levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the body. This increase in cortisol can lead to feelings of anxiety, nervousness, and restlessness, exacerbating stress and making it harder to manage. It also disrupts sleep, which is a key component of stress management. Poor sleep quality and not enough sleep increases stress levels, making it all the more difficult to cope with the demands of daily life. The Mayo Clinic recommends up to 400 mg of caffeine consumption a day, but talk with your doctor about what’s right for you.
Another tip to help older adults cope with stress is to partner with Visiting Angels South Elgin. We make it easy to get the elderly home care assistance you need. Our services have helped countless older adults continue to live the lifestyle they enjoy. When you choose us for your home care needs, you don’t need to be stressed about the type of care you’ll receive or when you'll receive it. Our flexible scheduling options allow you to dictate what days and times would fit best with your current routine. You can rest assured that you’ll be matched with a quality caregiver. We don’t believe in using contracted caregivers. Instead, we personally interview and screen each applicant before selecting them to represent our agency. You can be certain each of our professional caregivers shares our core values of treating each client with dignity and respect. To learn more or to get started with home care today, please contact us by calling 847-429-0100.