In the cycle of Christian holidays, today is Easter. If you celebrate this holiday, I hope it is a wonderful one for you. But regardless of whether or not you celebrate, Easter is a sign of springtime here in the United States. Spring brings with it a renewal of life. Trees flower and turn green. Animals come out of hibernation. Like the Easter holiday, spring brings a sense of new life and creation.
You would think that this is a very good thing for mental health, and for many people, this is the time of year that the winter funk ends. I know I’m one of these people. The winter months are always a little bit harder on me. I know that I really need the extra sunlight and Vitamin D to feel at my best.
But not everyone experiences this. For some, the advent of springtime is a really hard time to get through. While some people see the rebirth of the world around them as a time of joy, not everyone shares this thought. Some people look at the world moving forward and growing and then look at themselves and feel left behind. For some, spring is one of the hardest times of the year because it can serve as a reminder that something is not quite right with them.
This goes for both the young, the old, and everyone in between. Anyone can struggle with mental health issues at any age. But older people tend to be quieter about it. This is partly because of how they were brought up–it wasn’t something that was openly discussed for most older folk. And because of this, some older folk might not even know how to talk about mental health.
But that doesn’t mean that it’s not an issue. In fact, because they might not know how to talk about it means that we need to be even more alert and on the watch in case help is needed.
The stigma regarding mental health is slowly disappearing. A lot of people are able to talk about their own personal experiences with mental health issues or illness than they were able to twenty–or even ten–years ago.
Whatever senior care you decide upon for your family, please know that mental health needs to be addressed in some aspect. Oftentimes, the social aspect of care can help account for this, but this isn’t always enough. One of the great things about care is that it creates new bonds. That might be between individuals in a residential setting, or it might be just between a person in need and their caregiver. Care encourages human interaction, and this alone can be helpful for someone’s mental health.
But not always. Sometimes more is needed. It’s important that whatever care service you look at has this on their radar for things to look out for. Another set of eyes on someone is always helpful, regardless of their age or ability.
If you have questions about how in-home care might benefit your family, please reach out to us. We’re always happy to talk more.
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