After years of struggle and strife for personal and professional success, all seniors want is some “peace ” in their autumn years. This “peace” has much to do with their mind and health. Research studies have revealed that seniors living in a peaceful environment are less likely to develop health ailments than others. A peaceful ambience is a must for senior health, be it in their own homes or at assisted living facilities.
How can a peaceful environment contribute to senior health?
For seniors, most of the health ailments are due to stress. This stress is due to their lack of activity, loneliness and social isolation. All these factors compound to form stress and this stress increases their sugar and blood pressure levels. Therefore, the main thing that elders need in their retired life is a peaceful environment to dwell in.
How can we create a peaceful environment for seniors to live in?
1. Expression
The expression that elders most often use is “peace and quiet”. This is the foremost and fundamental need for seniors. Yes, seniors find it hard to focus on their affairs if they are surrounded by noise and din. an atmosphere of quiet or muted sounds is what suits seniors best. That is why elders often prefer to live in the suburbs or even in their native hometowns, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. This is the reason why most assisted living facilities are located in the outskirts of the city in serene surroundings.
2. Engage with Nature
The next thing that seniors need is to engage with nature. Yes, Mother Nature has a soothing effect on seniors. Going for a stroll in the morning, doing exercise, taking a sunbath, gardening or watering the plants – these are all activities that elders like. Such activities not only bring them close to Nature but also enhances their health and spirits. Seniors can take in enough fresh air and sunshine with these outdoor activities that harmonize with Nature. This reduces their stress and elevates their sense of health-being. To promote this type of engagement with Nature, assisted living facilities are often centered amidst beautiful gardens with many pathways and avenues for seniors to take morning walks and evening strolls.
3. Sense of Security
The third-most important factor that seniors need is a sense of security. Elders need to feel that they will be taken care of properly wherever they live, be it in their own homes or at assisted living facilities. This trust will develop only when they find themselves in a peaceful environment with no conflicts and confrontations. This is feasible only when the needs of the elders are understood, respected and met with. This happens in an assisted ling environment more efficiently as there is an entire team to cater to the needs of every senior. The caregivers are able to understand the needs of the elders intuitively and can handle them with ease owing to their experience.
The next thing that elders need most of all is the company.
Yes, solitude is the greatest enemy in old age. Many elders fight depression due to loneliness and social isolation. But not when they are in assisted living facilities. Assisted living enables elders to live independently among peers of their own age group as a community. Elders can interact with people of their age, get acquainted and make friends. Such social interactions keep elders at peace and harmony in such friendly surroundings.
Even with company, elders might sometimes get frustrated.
That I because they lack a purpose or meaning in life. To find this, seniors must engage in meaningful activities. If they do not do so, their brain activity tends to decline, escalating the risks of old-age mental ailments like Alzheimer’s and dementia This is why assisted living facilities organize group activities like aerobics, exercise, yoga, meditation, chorus singing, etc. All these activities are meant to keep the mental and physical faculties of elders sharp and alert. even charity and volunteering work is accepted from elders to keep them busy and help them find purpose in their lives. When they occupy themselves in such productive tasks, elders find a strange sense of satisfaction and peace.
Peace for Elders
Peace for elders is hence an amalgam of all these elements like serenity, security, right company, purpose and meaningful activity. It may be difficult to find all these factors even in their own homes. But this is definitely possible in assisted living facilities. At assisted living facilities, special care is taken to provide seniors with a safe, secure and peaceful environment with maximum comfort and attention.
Such a peaceful environment brings solace and comfort to every senior and augments their health and well-being. Every home or assisted living facility must endeavor to keep elders in a peaceful and positive environment to ensure their good health and well-being.
Seniors must be cocooned in the comfort of a peaceful environment to help them live a healthier and happier life.
