According to a Livability Index from AARP, Boise has a health index score of 73, making it a popular destination for retirement if you prioritize your health and well-being. Yet even with excellent healthcare, there are still daily challenges you can face in your later years, like mobility and financial strain.
In this guide, we'll share a practical approach to handling these stressors, known as problem focused coping. Read on to learn how it could help you look after your mental health in your later years.
When individuals face stressors in their lives, there are several positive ways they can address them, and problem focused coping is one such approach.
Mental health experts originally developed it as a strategy that could be used as part of therapy, helping patients take small, practical steps to resolve challenges in their lives that were causing emotional distress rather than dwelling on those negative feelings.
It's a vital tool for seniors, who may experience numerous emotional upheavals in their later years due to life changes, health complications, or loss of loved ones. Problem-focused coping can enable seniors to take action in their lives that help reduce stress or worry, such as investing in mobility aids to make everyday life easier when mobility levels begin to decline.
Seniors face unique pressures and stressors that can make them more at risk of mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. Here are some of the common challenges and risks that problem-focused coping could help manage:
In your senior years, you might face a new health diagnosis, and sometimes that can be a chronic condition. Sometimes, these health conditions can change everyday life. Other diagnoses, like cancer or heart disease, might cause worries about the future and concerns about the impact of ongoing treatment and hospital visits.
Seniors may experience declining mobility in their later years, which can impact their ability to perform everyday tasks that were once easy, such as taking long walks or deep cleaning at home.
For some, these limitations might cause frustration. For others, mobility issues like aching joints or a bad back might cause ongoing pain and require medication, which can add to a person's sense of stress.
Paying for accommodation, health, and lifestyle expenses can feel like an ongoing pressure for all adults, and it can be particularly noticeable for seniors who rely on a fixed income, such as pensions and savings. This can leave a person anxious, stressed, and sometimes overwhelmed.
Loneliness can be a significant risk for seniors, particularly after retirement when social circles often shrink, and friends and loved ones pass away. Reducing engagement and social activities is a challenge all seniors face, and it's vital to counter this risk by connecting with a community.
Resilience in old age can strengthen your resolve to tackle problems when they arise.
That's the underlying goal of problem-focused coping, which is there to guide seniors and show them how to stay strong and take practical steps when faced with a hurdle. Building mental strength in this way can be a lifelong asset, helping seniors cope better with unexpected news or changes in their lives, such as a health diagnosis.
Practical coping strategies are empowering when used by seniors to manage their well-being. These strategies provide a structure that helps seniors tackle daily tasks in a positive and productive manner, boosting their resilience and ensuring they are self-reliant, which is essential for maintaining their self-esteem.
Here are some examples of the types of practical strategies that seniors can adopt to help cope with challenges:
Technology can be a solution to many modern problems. For example, after moving to an independent living community, seniors might miss family.
However, learning how to use FaceTime technology, for example, can not only be a simple solution but, for some seniors, can actually increase the contact they have with loved ones.
Feeling isolated is a risk in old age, but there are simple ways to stay active and connect with others. For example, in an independent living community like Chateau de Boise, there is a weekly program of social events that residents can join, helping them make friends and have fun, which in turn helps alleviate loneliness.
Having an organized daily schedule can help seniors stay on top of tasks and reduce worries about cognitive decline. In an independent living community, care teams can help residents establish a daily routine.
Some worries and concerns may require outside help, such as financial issues. But taking control of a worrying situation like money and arranging for an advisor is a simple first step to handling the problem. Advisors can help with investment decisions or assist you in putting together a budget.
If you reside in an independent living community in Boise, ID, you'll have the advantage of being part of a social and active environment that prioritizes your health and well-being. This might involve participating in on-site activities or enjoying some of the shared amenities available, such as our landscaped gardens or fitness classes.
Don't forget that connections beyond the community also provide an avenue for problem-focused coping. Within a short drive of our community are numerous conveniences for senior living, including shops, restaurants, and parks. So whether you want to connect with family, enjoy nature, or find a professional therapist, you'll have everything you need nearby.
Problem focused coping strategies are a valuable way to handle change and challenges as you age. Remember that while problems may seem overwhelming at times, breaking them down into simple steps can help them become more manageable.
Being part of a community that offers emotional support is also crucial. Book a tour to see what we offer at Chateau de Boise. You'll find picturesque gardens, a welcoming atmosphere, and spacious communal areas, providing somewhere to connect, relax, and enjoy retirement life.