According to the American Institute on Stress, the 2024 American Psychiatric Association (APA) Mental Health Poll found that stress had the most significant impact on 53% of surveyed Americans' mental health. Moreover, the survey found that 43% of adults felt more anxious in 2024 than in 2023 due to stress.
Although younger people may be more susceptible to stress, many older adults can still experience long-term duress and distress. From worrying about their independence to feeling anxious about their health, these are just some connections between stress and aging.
The good news is that seniors can combat stress and its consequences in many ways. So please read on, as the caring team at LakeHouse Kalamazoo, our retirement community in Kalamazoo, MI, has shared stress-busting and relaxation techniques for area seniors in this guide.
According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), anxiety affects around 20% of seniors. Some of their risk factors include:
In such cases, seeking support can help seniors feel less stressed and anxious.
Your first reaction to the above is that receiving supportive services may seem counterintuitive to helping older adults retain their independence. But in reality, it can.
A perfect example is when older adults who struggle with crucial daily tasks, such as bathing or eating, get the personal care and assistive services they need. When they receive help to perform these activities, they can reduce their health and safety risks (e.g., falling in the bathroom or experiencing malnutrition).
Please remember that such hazards can rob seniors of their independence. Falls and malnutrition can lead to disabling injuries or health problems. So, getting help before these dangers occur allows older adults to preserve their autonomy and stay on their feet.
The higher the level of independence Kalamazoo seniors can maintain, the less stressed and anxious they'll likely be.
The detrimental effects of stress on aging go beyond poor mental and cognitive health; they can also manifest as actual, physical signs of aging! SciTechDaily.com says there is evidence linking social stress with senescence and DNA damage. Senescence refers to biological aging or, in simpler terms, the process of growing old.
Although we can't do anything to stop the hands of time and keep ourselves from naturally aging, that doesn't mean we should just let stress speed it up, either. One way is through regular exercise: It's an excellent tool for stress and anxiety management for older adults. A Mayo Clinic study even says it can help cut the number of senescent cells in the body!
Regular exercise can benefit seniors' health by releasing endorphins, the body's natural painkillers. Endorphins help foster feelings of positivity and well-being.
Physical activity can also help older adults feel less stressed and anxious because it can help improve many aspects of their health and well-being. Here are just some of the perks and pros of physical activity for seniors, per the U.S. CDC:
Being alone and having little to no contact with others can put older adults at risk of social isolation and loneliness, which can have adverse senior mental health effects. Isolation and loneliness, on their own, can also be stressful, as it can make anyone feel:
All those negative thoughts and emotions are distressing and can lead to even health problems. Indeed, the U.S. CDC says that loneliness and social isolation can raise one's risk for:
So, one of the most helpful physical, mental, and cognitive health tips for Kalamazoo seniors is to stay as socially connected as possible. Regular phone calls or video chats with loved ones and reconnecting with old friends are excellent ways to get started. So can joining senior-friendly social and hobby clubs.
At LakeHouse Kalamazoo, our assisted living community in Kalamazoo, MI, we understand how critical social connectedness is to older adults' well-being. For this reason, one of our top priorities is to ensure socialization thrives in our community. We do this by carefully planning and creating a robust calendar of not just social but also recreational, physical, and mentally engaging daily activities and events:
We're also proud of our community's on-site gardens and outdoor areas, perfect for relaxation, sunshine, and fresh air.
Forest bathing, which originated in Japan (known as "shinrin-yoku" in Japanese), is the practice of spending time in a forest or other natural environment, such as a green space. It focuses on connecting with nature and engaging the senses to promote well-being by reducing stress.
You don't have to exert physical effort just to enjoy the stress-reducing, anxiety-busting benefits of forest bathing. You can simply relax and feel calm as you take in the beauty of nature and listen to the sounds of birds chirping and the leaves rustling in the wind. Of course, you can also exercise to boost the effects of your time in nature.
In addition to LakeHouse Kalamazoo's on-site gardens, our beautiful senior living community is also near some of Kalamazoo, Michigan's beautiful parks and nature spaces. We're just a few minutes away from:
Stress and aging concerns can harm seniors' health and well-being, especially long-term. However, chronic stress shouldn't be a normal part of aging, and it won't have to be with the right strategies, such as seeking support when needed, staying physically active and social, and spending time in nature.
If you or an older loved one is ready to enjoy a more stress-free senior life, we encourage you to explore LakeHouse Kalamazoo. Highly attentive and individualized personal care, supportive services, and many outstanding amenities await you in our beautiful retirement community in Kalamazoo, MI.
Call us today to book a tour of our pet-friendly senior living community!