As we get older, our health becomes a much bigger priority. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is vital for retired persons looking to age gracefully and reduce immune and physical issues to get the most out of this next phase in their life.
The holistic approach to wellness is one tried and true method of maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle for older persons that can provide many benefits. Let’s look at how it works and its advantages.
To live a holistic lifestyle, older persons focus not only on their physical health but also on their emotional and mental well-being. One can form a holistic treatment plan based on all three factors and how someone is affected by their personal and social environment.
As older ones experience changes in their physical and mental well-being and social life, some may have difficulty adjusting, which can cause other deep-seated issues, including isolation and depression.
However, the holistic approach to senior wellness can help older ones refocus their energy toward activities and pastimes that will positively impact their mental and physical health, from yoga to massages to music therapy.
Overall, this care method focuses on activities and treatments that help unify the mind and body so that older ones can live full, independent lives as they age.
Older persons who choose the holistic care method can benefit in many different ways, all of which can help them lead fuller, more independent lives, whether they reside at home, in a retirement community, or assisted living.
For instance, many of the treatments included in holistic care capitalize on developing and maintaining a person’s cognitive ability and improving the focus and attention span of older adults.
The holistic approach also puts a significant emphasis on cultivating healthy relationships and spending time with family. This approach can also lead to many more opportunities for social growth, as older ones can focus on building new relationships while improving old ones.
Let’s examine a few of the different care treatments and methods that are involved in the holistic approach to wellness, along with how older individuals can benefit from these treatments:
Meditation is an excellent holistic exercise for older people struggling with stress and anxiety. Meditating trains a person’s mind to redirect their attention to more positive and upbuilding thoughts. This method often involves controlling ones breathing and focusing on specific sounds or instructions to push away negative feelings or stressful thoughts.
This type of exercise can effectively reduce stress and anxiety and improve cognitive focus and memory loss in older adults.
The benefits derived from pet ownership are a great example of how the holistic method benefits both the mind and the body. Owning and caring for an animal can help create feelings of security, love, and companionship.
Taking care of a pet can significantly elevate the mood of older ones, as the unconditional love we receive from our pets can lead to higher levels of self-esteem.
Pet owners often have more opportunities to move their bodies, such as taking their pets for regular walks, which can contribute to an older person’s physical fitness. Owning pets has also been proven to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, decrease a person’s stress levels and lower blood pressure.
Not only do older individuals often find great pleasure and contentment when caring for a pet, but by simply enjoying the company of their little furry friend, they can improve their health almost effortlessly!
Massage therapy is a fantastic holistic treatment for older adults, as it can both improve their health and reduce stress levels. Deep tissue massage therapy, for instance, has been proven to be greatly beneficial to immune system response, as this form of massage increases the white blood cell count for many older adults.
However, if an older person struggles with muscle sensitivity, they may benefit more from gentle massage, which can help relax clenched muscles and reduce high blood pressure.
Hand massages are also ideal for older individuals with arthritis, carpel tunnel, and other common hand afflictions. This type of massage can even improve a person’s range of motion in their hands, wrist, and fingers.
As mentioned above, music therapy is a common practice in holistic care. This treatment uses music to improve cognitive decline and physical and emotional issues.
By listening to music, particularly slow-pace instrumentals, older persons can experience significant improvements in their cardiovascular health, reduced feelings of anxiety, and reduced levels of cortisol.
This therapy is particularly beneficial for older ones who have recently experienced a stroke, as music has been proven to stimulate blood flow to the brain, improving speech and cognitive abilities.
Further still, if older persons living with dementia listen to a song attached to a familiar time or place from their life, this song can cause memories to resurface with the help of an experienced music therapist.
Many senior health and wellness approaches have been proven effective, including holistic care. The combination of mental, physical, and emotional therapy methods involved in the holistic approach can significantly improve an older person’s cognitive ability, emotional well-being, muscle and joint pain, and many other similar issues.
If you’re interested in pursuing holistic care, consider some of the abovementioned advantages, and consult your physician or doctor to determine whether this treatment method suits you.
