Believe it or Not, Getting Older Generally Means Getting Happier
Golden West, The Towers
Dec 28, 2021
Colorado - Boulder County
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A 2019Gallup Global Emotionspoll found that as they got older, people reported less overall life stress, and in his2018 bookThe Happiness Curve: Why Life Gets Better After 50, Jonathan Rauch highlights a study that found peoples reported happiness levels began rising as they reached their 80s.
What is behind such remarkable resiliency, as Golden West residents have shown over this past year? Here are some reasons why we get progressively happier and experience less stress after we hit 50.
Our expectations adjust
Getting older can help us adjust our expectations for what we can achieve in our lives, and how happy those achievements will make us feel. Realizing that the time left to significantly change our lives is limited, we can choose to focus on the things that mean the most to us, whether its attending church, fly-fishing, volunteering in the community or playing with our grandchildren. In the coming years, knowing we are focusing solely on what makes us happy can be a reassuring feelin
We gain a new perspective
Sociology professor Monika Ardelt defines wisdom in three parts: insight gained over time for living well; the ability to see events from a new perspective; and increased compassion for others. Getting older, we develop insight into what we personally need to achieve contentment, said Ardelt, and we also gain a better understanding of other peoples motivations and personalities, which allows us to feel more sympathy for them.
Our brains evolve
It may be surprising to learn that the human brains structure is not fixed and static. In fact, our brains can increase the number of neurons and alter the connections between them, a concept known as neuroplasticity. In Super Brain, physician and bestselling author Deepak Chopra writes that as they age, people can begin to power these biological processes on their own by thinking in a more mindful way; personally, Chopra uses yoga and meditation as his core mindfulness practices.
We avoid toxic people
Socioemotional selectivity theory states that as we age, we become more selective in how we spend our time and with whom. Younger people may spend considerable time and energy dealing with stressful people in their lives, but as we age, we realize we can be more selective about who we socialize with, and that we can remove ourselves from an uncomfortable situation, even if we may appear unfriendly.
Life changes cant scare us
As youngsters, many of us imagine every life event as either a tragedy or a success. But over time, people tend to move away from this black-and-white thinking and begin to see that stressful change is part of life. Realizing this, we can change our way of thinking, start focusing on the present, and better manage our emotions as we navigate life changes.
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About Dignity Care
Dignity Care is a homegrown business in Boulder.In the 1990s, Mary Kirk, a registered dietitian, began caregiving for family and relatives. Her husband, Ged, offered a companion travel service for the elderly and disabled. Together they established Dignity Care, LLC in 1997 as a home care business with just two caregivers and a home office.As demand for home care service increased, Mary recruited additional caregivers, but always with an emphasis on the compassionate, respectful, personalized care that was Dignity Cares trademark. Mary created her own approach to senior home care, unique in this area.With this dedication and passion to provide the best caregivers in the Boulder County region, Dignity Care has continued to grow and in 2009 became licensed as a Class A home care provider. We specialize in using Certified Nursing Assistants on our teams so we can bring you the skill and experience you deserve, if you have any questions, please call us at 303-444-4040.
In Home Care Helps Seniors with Depression
Too many seniors grapple with isolation and depression, but these are not a normal part of growing older. They are treatable medical illnesses, much like heart disease or diabetes. Depression is a serious illness affecting approximately 15 out of every 100 adults over age 65 in the United States.Seniors experiencing feelings of depression and isolation have a higher risk of hospital admissions, as well as a higher risk for being scammed. Not to mention it makes for a miserable life.So, what can you do? Helping seniors stay healthy means more than ensuring they get good physical care. Individuals living alone miss out on the stimulation of interactions with others on a regular basis. Our caregivers serve that dual purpose of providing physical care and social connection. We enjoy our clients, building a relationship with them, and sharing the highs and lows of their days. Caregivers can laugh with their clients and be an empathetic ear. We make sure our clients are getting out of the house and attending events and activities that interest them.Hiring a caregiver to help out, even for a couple of hours each week, brings conversation and spark along with the physical help. Caregivers are a good antidote for depression. If you have any questions, please call us at 303-444-4040.
Why Is Staying Hydrated So Difficult for Seniors?
Hot summer days are a good time for everyone to think about staying hydrated. For older adults the topic of hydration is a year-round discussion that never goes away. Its a serious issue for most seniors but doesnt get resolved because it needs to be addressed every day and cant be solved with a pill.Seniors have a very high risk for dehydration, which is one of the most frequent causes of hospitalization after the age of 65. They have a greater risk of dehydration for many reasons, including the fact that as we age, our kidneys become less efficient at conserving fluids, our sense of thirst weakens, and we are less able to adjust to changes in temperature. Some medications like diuretics, sedatives, and laxatives can also cause increased fluid loss.Dehydration can cause temporary symptoms that mimic symptoms of Alzheimers. If dementia-like symptoms seem to appear suddenly, it could be dehydration which is easily curable.Symptoms of dehydration range from minor to severe and include persistent fatigue, muscle weakness, headaches, dizziness, nausea, forgetfulness, confusion, lethargy, increased heart rate, sunken eyes, dry mouth, dark colored urine. Urine should be clear to pale yellow. I tell my clients that if their urine is darker than pale yellow, they should head straight to the kitchen from the bathroom and drink a full glass of water. Keeping a glass of water beside you all day to sip on rarely results in someone drinking enough fluids. Its more effective to drink the entire glass, even if its a small glass. Seniors cant rely on their sense of thirst to tell them when to drink water. Scheduling a glass at each meal and/or after a bathroom visit, making sure to drink the full glass, is the best way to make sure youve gotten your full daily amount.If you have any questions, please call us at 303-444-4040.
Local Services By This Author
Golden West
Independent Living 1055 Adams Circle, Boulder, Colorado, 80303Recently renovated, Golden West is a nonprofit, affordable senior living community for people age 62 and older. Our long-time staff provide quality services, including programs and activities, social events, entertainment and educational programs. In addition to community-based opportunities, we facilitate outside trips and coordinate volunteer opportunities for our residents with respected local organizations. Our midtown Boulder location offers easy access to many Boulder amenities including dining, shopping and entertainment with healthcare providers and services also nearby.
Golden West, The Towers
Affordable-Subsidized 1055 Adams Circle, Boulder, Colorado, 80303Recently renovated, Golden West is a nonprofit, affordable senior living community for people age 62 and older. Our long-time staff provide quality services, including programs and activities, social events, entertainment and educational programs. In addition to community-based opportunities, we facilitate outside trips and coordinate volunteer opportunities for our residents with respected local organizations. Our midtown Boulder location offers easy access to many Boulder amenities including dining, shopping and entertainment with healthcare providers and services also nearby.