Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a mood disorder. It can impact every part of a person's life during the colder months and their shorter days, but exercises like chair yoga, dancing, and stretching can help.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, two in every five Americans say that their mental health gets worse in winter. Sleep problems are likely, and mood swings and depression become more frequent.
Those in senior living communities often struggle to establish winter wellness routines that fall within their physical limitations. Assisted living engagement and memory care activities are important aspects of nipping sedentary lifestyles and seasonal affective disorder in the bud.
Here, we're going to offer up some tips for both physical and emotional support in aging. Read on to learn the symptoms of SAD and how you can mitigate them.
University of Michigan Health defines seasonal affective disorder (SAD) as a depressive episode that happens annually as a result of the changing seasons. This common mood disorder leads to people feeling depressed during the wintertime.
Seniors are particularly susceptible to this problem. This is because Signet Health reports that seniors are 20%-60% more likely to experience depression than their younger counterparts. If you feel blue during the colder months, you're far from alone.
Knowing the main symptoms of SAD is the first step toward knowing that you have it. Some things to look out for include:
If you're showing any of these symptoms, looking into solutions for the pain that comes with SAD is a critical step toward feeling better.
Winter wellness routines are important for those contending with the symptoms of SAD. These routines have primary goals of:
The best Morristown, TN, community has emotional support down to a science. Our compassionate caregivers are always ready to talk with seniors about their mood changes and the negative emotions that SAD brings to the forefront of their minds. They'll recommend activities and events that help them meet other people and discover new hobbies.
TerraBella Morristown also offers emotional assistance through therapy exercises. Art and music therapy are available regularly.
Seniors can also consider seeing licensed talk therapists to get tools for managing difficult feelings.
Beyond that, getting more sunlightis a priority. Translational Psychiatry studies report that those who get just 1.5 hours of sunlight per day have significantly lower risks of depression than others.
Getting out in the sun is a great way to boost vitamin D levels and decrease the impacts of SAD. Seniors can do this within community grounds. Our amenities include:
Still, sitting outside is no substitute for regular exercise. Moving your body is the #1 thing that can help you nip SAD and its symptoms in the bud.
Outdoor walking paths are one of the best amenities that TerraBella Morristown offers residents. These paths are landscaped and clean.
This is ideal for seniors who want to engage in daily light exercise. Walking is fun with friends, but seniors can also go for walks on their own while listening to their favorite music.
Just make sure that you don't take a walk on a cold or icy day. Safety is the #1 priority!
If you want some indoor exercises, check out our community calendar events. This robust, diverse calendar offers activities for seniors with mobility restrictions. Our experienced caregivers know how to blend accessibility and mobility support seamlessly.
Some active events to consider attending include:
Getting sunlight can be challenging in the winter months since it's cold outside. However, opening the blinds on a window in your apartment lets natural light into your living area all day. Since TerraBella Morristown offers great insulation, you don't need to worry about the cold creeping in, either.
Our indoor amenities also have large windows, so you can sit by one of those, too!
In addition to actual sunlight, having the best home lighting is an important tip for combating SAD symptoms.
Light therapy boxes, also called sun lamps, are an effective treatment option for this mood disorder. Mayo Clinic says that the light box should provide an exposure to 10,000 lux of light while creating as little UV light as possible.
Make sure to get one made specially for SAD; some are made for skin disorders and produce too much UV light, which can damage your eyes.
Moving around frequently in the apartment is also important. Set the lamps up in multiple areas of your home.
Get up every hour or two and take a short turn around the room. This gets you up and moving even if you're largely stationary.
Now that you know the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder and how exercise can help you manage them, it's time to get started. Finding a great senior living community is the first step towards a healthy and happy life, and older adults thrive best in high-quality assisted living and memory care.
TerraBella Morristown is committed to helping Tennessee seniors age gracefully and happily. Our compassionate experts help residents get the physical activity needed to thrive. With encouragement, diverse offerings, and beautiful pathways, we're here to help you find an activity you love.
To see what we can do and talk with other residents, contact us to schedule a tour of our top-notch apartments and amenities!