Journaling is a powerful tool that people of all ages can use to express themselves, reflect, and engage their brains. Seniors in particular can benefit from journaling in so many ways, especially if they’re doing so on a regular basis. Companion care at home can help seniors determine what types of journals they want to try and get started on one or more of them right away.

Memory Keeping Journals

Seniors have lived rich, vibrant lives full of experiences. Keeping journals that record those stories allows families to have insight into their family histories, the personal achievements of the seniors they love, and meaningful moments from throughout the senior’s life. These types of journals might start with questions or prompts, or seniors might start wherever they like, recording memories as they occur to them.

Gratitude Journals

Practicing gratitude in a tangible way does a lot to boost emotional wellness. The easiest way to do this is with a gratitude journal. Seniors might write down just a few things they’re grateful for each day and leave it at that or they might write longer entries describing what they’re grateful for and why. These types of journals are also great as art journals, where seniors can express themselves through a variety of different media. Home care providers can help them to explore their options.

Nature Logs

Getting out into nature has some big physical and mental health benefits. Nature journals that capture the observations from those outings can also have big benefits. Again, seniors might find they like to mix things up a bit. They can write about what they saw, draw or sketch birds or flowers they saw, or even make a scrapbook of pictures they took. Companion care at home can help seniors get to different settings so they can explore.

Travel Journals

If seniors love to travel, they might enjoy documenting trips they’ve taken or even journaling about trips they want to take in the future. Getting really descriptive or writing imaginary travel stories helps seniors stretch their creativity. Companion care at home can help seniors find prompts or share their own travel stories with seniors.

Daily Reflections

Keeping track of the day and what happened is surprisingly effective in helping people work through their feelings and stay in touch with what is happening. Some seniors might like to write a stream of consciousness of what happened, while others might focus on details like what time they woke up and what they ate. There’s no wrong way to keep these types of journals because they’re about reflecting on what matters to each individual.

Mindfulness Journals

Mindfulness journals can be similar to reflection journals, but they might contain slightly different information. Keeping track of affirmations or positive thoughts can help seniors focus on those areas. Tracking moods or self-care habits can also help seniors to stay aware of how those affect their daily lives.

Journaling is something that seniors can do easily and they might find it to be fun with the help of companion care at home. Having someone to suggest topics and ideas can make for a more enjoyable experience overall.

Reference
https://www.webmd.com/balance/what-is-mindfulness

If you or an aging loved one are considering companion care at home in Edina, MN and the surrounding areas, please contact the friendly staff at CareBuilders at Home Minnesota. Call today 612-260-2273.