Sunshine plays a huge role when it comes to mental health. This might not be news to most people, but the application of this fact might be tough to implement, especially when it comes to elderly shut-ins, and especially when we are dealing with the winter months. Sunlight has been shown time and time again to act as a temporary antidepressant in many instances, and the mental health benefits that this gives to the elderly cannot be overstated. However, it’s quite difficult for many elderly people to reap the benefits of this.
The most obvious way to get sunshine is to go outside. If you have an elderly family member or neighbor who does not get around easily, going outside can be a major chore. In many cases, it is impossible unless they have some sort of assistance. If this is something that you can assist with easily and safely, then helping them to get outdoors is one of the easiest ways that you can help contribute to their health. If this isn’t something you can help with yourself, finding someone that can be of help, be it a friend that lives closer than you or a professional in-home care specialist, then this is also helpful.
Vitamin D supplements can also prove to be helpful in some cases. Many seniors have also found that using artificial sunlamps are beneficial. Both of these need to be addressed with some caution, though. It is important that any change in medications, including the addition of a vitamin, be run by a physician before it is actually implemented into the routine of a senior citizen. And although sunlamps are harmless to most people, those with sensitive skin or a history of skin cancer need to check with a physician before they begin using one of these, too. These cannot fully replace all of the benefits that sunlight carries with it, but they can pick up some of the slack that is created during the winter months.
A recent study pointed to the fact that sunshine is extremely important to mental health. And although pollution might play a large role in physical health–especially amongst elderly individuals that suffer from breathing difficulty–pollution does not play a crucial role one way or another when it comes to mental health. Rain and temperature also play nonconsequential roles when it came to mental health, which was surprising to those involved in the project. Furthermore, it was discovered that sunshine didn’t impact just those individuals with seasonal affective disorder, but everybody.
If you have an elderly loved one, it is important that their mental health be addressed in addition to their physical needs. Mental health is a key component of a positive attitude and it influences physical health in a profound way. You cannot have success in one area if you are completely ignoring the other. If they live with you at home, or are under the guidance of a caregiver in some capacity, ensuring that mental health needs are addressed is a proven way to help increase their quality of life.
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