The Positive Psychology Institute describes positive aging as “the process of maintaining a positive attitude, feeling good about yourself, keeping fit and healthy, and engaging fully in life as you age.” It is a way of living than a state of being. In other words, it’s approaching life’s challenges with a positive attitude. We believe positive thinking leads to happiness, and happiness, in turn, enhances overall health.
There was a study that was conducted by Kolnut, Cooper, et al. on elderly patients. The participants were given the flu vaccine. Those who were more optimistic had developed a higher level of antibodies than those who were pessimistic. Another study conducted by Maruta et al. showed that an increase in at least 10 points of a participant’s level of optimism helped decrease the risk of early death by almost 20 percent.
Seniors may experience feebleness, visual impairment, aches, pains, and loss, and these could lead to depression. However, at GYC Senior Care, we encourage our seniors to have a positive outlook on life. We provide personal and transitional care. This means we are with our seniors every step of the way.
Here are four ways in which we encourage positivity in our community:
Smile
It all starts with a smile. A smile can go a long way in making seniors feel jovial and lively. It can lead to impactful and healthy conversations and feelings of personal affirmation. Seniors may sometimes feel they are a burden to caregivers or loved ones because they are going through a lot of transitions, most of which are unpredictable. However, we choose to smile to show that we genuinely care.
Listen
Seniors love to tell stories, and they love to be heard. They may talk of their glory days, things that made them happy, or things that made them sad, or their past accomplishments. Always give a listening ear, you may learn a thing or two, and you may get the blessing of a few laughs.
Stay active
It is important for seniors to stay active physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually. Whether it’s volunteering at a local community, reading a book, or exercising at the gym, seniors need to feel engaged. This enhances their overall health and quality of life. In our community, we try as much as possible to support our seniors the best way we can, but we also give room for autonomy and independence. Our residents at GYC love to take walks around the villas.
Build relationships
As our residents age, there’s the inclination to feel connected. Isolation breeds depression, which is detrimental to a senior’s health. We encourage healthy relationships with family and friends, and our caregivers build relationships with our senior residents and their families/friends. We also create opportunities for mingling and building peer-to-peer relationships. We organize seminars, parties, games, and other social activities. They want to hear words of affirmation. Let them know that their presence is appreciated and needed.
Aging comes with a lot of transitions, unexpected outcomes, and most of all, it is a highly critical time for a person. We know that transitions and circumstances can lead to stress which is a primary cause of chronic medical problems in seniors. That is why we create a conducive environment for residents.
Here at GYC Senior Care, we create an air of positivity. We always make our seniors feel like every day is a breath of fresh air, and we treat each resident like they are our own family.
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