Everyone is struggling with maintaining a mental and emotional equilibrium during the COVID-19 pandemic. Being cooped up can take its toll, especially when you are living in close proximity to others over a prolonged period of time. Older adults residing in senior living communities can face unique concerns in this regard. Quality Care of Howell recognizes these challenges and provides individualized services to meet the specific needs of all residents in a most personalized way.
Make the Most of Your Space
When you are sharing space with others, particularly in a senior living environment, you can feel claustrophobic, as if you have little room to call your own. Make an effort to optimize the space you have available. For example, use room dividers where possible, or situate furniture in such a way that you can carve out nooks with privacy. Curtain panels and tall plants can also be a way to delineate space in such a way that you feel you have a bit of a personal retreat. If you can't tune out others, consider noise-canceling headphones that allow you to listen to your favorite music or white noise to block out ambient sounds.
Fight Feelings of Isolation
While some people may feel they are on top of one another during the pandemic, others feel an intense sense of isolation, particularly extroverts who enjoy socializing and being around others. Utilize technology to its fullest extent to stay connected with friends and loved ones, using features like video conferencing and socially distanced in-person visits. Even if your family is waving to you from a car or standing outside your window and talking to you on the phone, you can still see them face-to-face and feel a sense of connection. Ask family members to outfit you with the latest in easy-to-use tech gadgets, like a smartphone or tablet, so you can stay virtually connected.
Stay Sharp
It can be easy to get lost in streaming movies and being sedentary, as we tell ourselves it is fine to enjoy luxuries like extra snacks and comfort foods because it is, after all, a pandemic! However, thinking this way for too long can have detrimental effects on your physical well-being. Make a point to eat healthy foods, get fresh air, and partake in healthcare provider-approved physical activity on a regular basis. Also, look for creative paths to engage yourself in other ways. Listen to books on tape or even take an interesting and free online class to help you stay sharp.
Ask for Help
According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, if you find yourself becoming mentally or emotionally distressed, or are experiencing anxiety or symptoms of depression, it’s important to reach out for help. Even if you can't see a physician in person, telehealth visits with therapists and counselors are readily available. These individuals recognize that many people are struggling with mental and emotional health issues during the pandemic, and can offer you valuable tips and insights based on your unique circumstances. The key is in remembering this will pass at some point, and ensuring your overall well-being in the interim is critical to long-term health and wellness.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a whole new set of challenges related to how we live, communicate, and interact with one another. Giving special attention to your mental, emotional, and physical well-being during this time can help ensure you come through this most unusual time in the best shape possible.
If you or a loved one are interested in quality senior care or assisted living in the Howell, please call us at (517) 579-2019 or e-mail us a contact@qualitycareofhowell.com for more information via email.
-Jim McKinley