National Wellness Month: Promoting Senior Health in Allen, TX

Think about it: when was the last time you took a step back and assessed your overall health? Have you really been doing enough self-care to protect yourself and boost your well-being?

It's likely that you haven't been, because everyday life is so busy. So if you haven't kept up with self-care, chances are, your beloved senior hasn't either.

Luckily, National Wellness Month is coming up very soon in August, and there are many ways you can commemorate this month in Allen, TX. Read on to see how you can pitch in with healthy aging initiatives and make promoting senior health front of mind.

Educate Seniors on the Seven Dimensions of Wellness

The first thing you should do is educate seniors on the seven dimensions of wellness. With this foundation, it'll be much easier to do everything else.

The seven dimensions of wellness are:

• Physical
• Emotional
• Intellectual
• Social
• Spiritual
• Environmental
• Occupational (Even in retirement; this refers to meaningful activity)

To celebrate these things, you can host an educational workshop (either in-person or virtual). In addition, you can create a wellness bulletin board in community centers. Another idea is to hand out simple wellness journals that allow older adults to track daily goals in each category.

Promote Physical Wellness Through Movement

Physical health is foundational to all other types of health. Wellness activities for seniors can help them maintain strength, balance, and cardiovascular health. And there are many low-impact movements they can do too!

For example, they can participate in daily walking groups. They can happen in the morning or evening, and all they have to do is go around the block or the indoor halls.

In addition, chair yoga and tai chi are excellent for older adults. These, in combination with stretch and balance sessions, can help prevent falls.

To motivate seniors, pitch wellness challenges. Things like "move for 30 minutes a day" or "try a new fruit each day" can keep them engaged.

Prioritize Mental and Emotional Wellness

Mental health is just as important as physical health, especially since older adults are particularly at risk for anxiety, loneliness, and depression. They're often reluctant to talk about mental health as well, since there's a stigma attached to it.

You can help open the door by holding weekly support groups or talk circles. This can help them realize that they're not alone in their struggles.

Mindfulness and meditation classes are beneficial too. They can learn to slow down and breathe, and as a result, this can have a calming effect.

Gratitude journaling, therapy pet visits, and animal interaction days are other ideas you can explore. These can all boost older adults' moods.

Organize Nutritional Wellness Activities

What you eat can have a profound effect on your overall health, but many people aren't aware that senior nutritional needs are different from the general population. So the advice of "eat healthy" needs to be modified for the elderly demographic.

You can make this fun and accessible by holding community wellness events. For instance, have dietitians or chefs host healthy cooking demonstrations and "meal prep for one" workshops. Put smoothie bars throughout the venue to give seniors low-sugar, high-nutrient options.

In addition, encourage meals with fruits and veggies of different colors. You can also provide handouts on hydration tips, especially for seniors who may not recognize thirst.

Enhance Intellectual Wellness

Brain health is a particularly important topic for older adults, as reducing cognitive decline and promoting independence are key goals. And you can do your part to help by having senior wellness programs that focus on intellectual wellness.

Simple ways to do this are through book clubs or reading hours. Or if you'd like to provide older adults with more challenges, then have brain games tournaments, like:

• Bingo
• Scrabble
• Sudoku
• Trivia
• Memory games

Learning new skills can also help them feel more accomplished, so try teaching them painting, a new language, or smartphone usage. You can partner with local libraries or community colleges for classes.

Encourage Social Connections

Loneliness does more than just affect a senior's mood. It can lead to health issues, like:

• Heart disease
• Depression
• Dementia

An efficient way to combat this is to build a community through purposeful interaction, such as holding July 4th events for seniors. Other regular everyday activities you can try are picnics in the park, garden socials, or game nights.

Intergenerational meetups can be great too. Invite local schoolchildren for storytelling or craft days. Or have pen pal programs that connect older adults within the community or across locations.

Support Spiritual Wellness

Not everyone is religious, but that doesn't mean you can't look after your spiritual well-being. It's about mindfulness, reflection, and a connection to purpose. So you don't even need a deity to do this.

Encourage your beloved senior to do things like:

• Guided meditation
• Nature walks
• Spiritual reflection groups
• Volunteer days
• Gratitude trees

Improve Environmental Wellness

The environment you surround yourself with can significantly impact how you feel. Having a clean, safe, and calming space can promote better mental and physical health for older adults.

You can start by choosing a community with senior apartment design features, as it'll already be set for older adults. Other ways to improve environmental wellness are:

• Declutter and organize workshops
• Indoor planting groups
• Garden clubs
• Wellness corner (comfortable seating, aromatherapy diffusers, and reading material)
• Clear air awareness (educate on filters, allergens, and air quality)

Participate in National Wellness Month This Year

National Wellness Month is essential for everyone, but especially for older adults. They need to feel empowered to take control of their well-being, and this starts with small daily habits.

In addition, you can support them by hosting or taking them to community-wide wellness festivals and encouraging them to join relevant groups. This way, you can help make health accessible, enjoyable, and inclusive. And as a result, your loved one will thrive!

Get in touch with us today to speak about senior living in Allen, TX. Discovery Village Twin Creeks has weekly excursion trips that allow our residents to explore and experience the local area.