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Maintaining Mental Health While Aging

19 June 2023

memory care   memory care facility   Mental Health   senior living   The Birches at Villa Rica  
The Birches at Villa Rica - Senior Woman Holding a Book Reading

Aging is unavoidable, but there are many ways to ensure that becoming a senior citizen doesn’t also mean growing old. Following a few simple guidelines can help fight off mental decline, improve overall health and reduce the risk for Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.

According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), cognitive health is defined as the ability to clearly think, learn and remember. However, it is just one aspect of the overarching category known as brain health – or how well a person’s brain functions across the board. The NIA describes the aspects of brain health as:

  • Cognitive health - how well you think, learn and remember.
  • Motor function - how well you make and control movements, including balance.
  • Emotional function - how well you interpret and respond to both pleasant and unpleasant emotions.
  • Tactile function - how well you feel and respond to sensations of touch - including pressure, pain and temperature.

Factors for mental health decline

Taking care of one’s mental health means living a lifestyle in which proper eating and consistent exercise play key roles. It also means working to counteract the effects of other diseases and health issues, such as:

  • High blood pressure.
  • Heart disease.
  • Medication side effects.
  • Diabetes.
  • Vitamin deficiencies.
  • Alzheimer's disease/dementias.
  • Substance abuse.
  • Strokes.
  • Infections.
  • Depression.
  • Delirium.

Protecting and strengthening mental health

As we age, brain functions can diminish, causing varying stages of loss of function. However, changes to diet and consistent exercise can have a significant impact on declination of cognition. Ways to improve mental health include:

  • Prioritize physical health - get an annual physical/regular health screening, get good sleep, avoid large meals, caffeine, nicotine and alcohol.
  • Manage high blood pressure – Stop smoking, reduce alcohol consumption, lose weight, exercise regularly and reduce sodium intake.
  • Eat healthy foods – eat fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, fish and poultry and low-fat or nonfat dairy products. Limit solid fats, sugar and salt, and be mindful of portion sizes.
  • Be Physically Active - participate in walking and running, water aerobics, lifting weights, yoga and other forms of exercise.
  • Keep your mind active - play games, learn new skills, travel, do arts and crafts or volunteer.
  • Stay connected with social activities - call or visit with friends and family often, find hobbies to share with others, do something you enjoy every day, join dance groups and book clubs.
  • Manage stress - do breathing exercises, consider a change of pace and add structure to your daily routine.
  • *Always consult your doctor before making any changes to your diet or exercise regimen