Seniors have had to isolate for months to keep themselves safe from contracting COVID-19. While social isolation is vital for reducing the chances of contracting the virus, it can take a toll on one’s mental health. If you are a senior and you’re finding it hard to get through this time, read these tips to manage your mental health:
1. Find Emotional Support
Sometimes, you just need someone to talk to. If you don’t have a trusted friend to call and share your feelings with, then you can look into other options for emotional support. There are mental health hotlines all over the country that can talk you through your problems, even when you’re in the midst of a crisis. You can find support groups online. You can also sign up for virtual therapy, where you have sessions through video chat. There are solutions out there.
2. Find Physical Support
Emotional support isn’t the only way to manage your mental health better. Finding physical support can also work wonders.
For instance, you might be living with a medical condition that makes it difficult to conduct daily tasks, like getting groceries, cooking meals and cleaning. Those challenges will inevitably affect your mental health and wellbeing.
Accessing services that can help you accomplish these daily tasks can relieve you of this constant source of stress. If lugging around bags of groceries is exhausting, you could use grocery delivery services. If going to the pharmacy to pick up prescription refills is too much, you can get automatic refills and sign up for delivery services. You can hire people to do everything from cleaning your house to shovelling your walk to take the burden off your shoulders.
If you need more relief, you may want to join a senior living community that offers extensive professional care services. Take a look at the senior communities across Canada that have assisted living and memory care options for residents that need extra support to get through the day. One of them could be the right choice for you.
3. Turn Off the News
It’s important to stay informed on current events, but you shouldn’t be watching the news or doomscrolling on social media all day long —especially when times are rough. It’s too much negative information to take in. It can increase feelings of anxiety, panic and depression.
Practice moderation when it comes to your news intake. You will feel much better for it.
4. Keep in Contact
Loneliness can have a dramatic effect on your mental health, so you should try your best to keep in contact with your social circle. But how can you stay in touch with your friends and family if you’re supposed to stay at home?
Use technology to bridge the gap. Send text messages and emails. Set up phone chats on the weekend. Sign onto video conferencing apps to have large gatherings on your computer screen. Experts recommend video chats over audio chats whenever you can because you feel a stronger connection to people when you can see their faces.
Your mental health is important. Put as much care and attention into managing it as you do with your physical health.
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