May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and mental health care is often overlooked when it comes to older adults and their caregivers. Caregiver burnout can have severe mental and physical consequences, and mental fitness can help ensure a good quality of life for older adults. Here are some tips for older adults to look after their mental wellbeing.
Do Regular Check-Ins With Yourself
Just like you go to regular physical examinations, you need to be checking in with yourself mentally. There are a lot of changes to one’s life that can effect their mental health. This is especially true if you are also dealing with the loss of your independence in some way.
Make Time for Things That You Enjoy
This doesn’t have to be daily time, it can be weekly time. And the activity doesn’t matter. Set aside time to do something that you enjoy, like gardening or painting, that you can do just for yourself.
Get Involved in Your Community
One way to improve our mental health is to maintain healthy social relationships. This can come in many forms, like being active in your local church or volunteering with a cause that is important to you. Schools often need volunteers, maybe you can volunteer at your grandchild’s school.
Take care of yourselves this May and every month of the year. We are always concerned about mental health here at CareBuilders. Thank you all for reading, and I’ll see you next time! It’s getting hot, so stay safe and drink lots of water.
