Learn about the mental and physical health benefits of social interactions in Senior Health Care Hub’s latest guide! You’ll gain insights into how isolation can actually be harmful to your health and how a hug can reduce stress.
As nice as it can be to get some alone time from time to time, it's no longer fun when it doesn't feel like a choice. Aging is a lonely process for so many, despite it being perhaps the most important time in your life to have social interactions - your health and mental well-being actually depend on it.
But what can you do about it?
In Senior Health Care Hub's latest guide, they explain the importance of a rich social life for improving the mental health and life quality of seniors. It covers subjects like community involvement, meaningful interactions, and how to overcome social anxiety, setting you up for more positive socializing experiences.
To read the full guide, go to: https://seniorhealthcarehub.com/how-social-interaction-can-improve-mental-health/
With age, many natural meeting points diminish, one of the most important being your workplace. After all, most of your social interactions happen at work for a major part of your adult life, and when you retire, that's just ripped away from you. This is a common problem among older people. According to a study presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 25% of all adults aged 65 and over are considered to be socially isolated.
Loneliness can cause depression and anxiety, but as the CDC points out, social isolation is also an overall health concern and can even have as big an effect on life expectancy as smoking and obesity. The CDC refers to recent studies that show that older people who were isolated had a 50% greater risk of developing dementia. Researchers also found that solitude increased the risk of strokes by 32%, and the risk of heart disease by 29%.
In Senior Health Care Hub's guide, you'll get tips and ideas on how to reduce the time you spend alone. For example, it suggests joining a club or volunteering to get the chance to interact with people who have similar interests as you and create a sense of purpose. If you, like many seniors, have difficulties leaving your homes due to disabilities, the guide suggests online platforms that allow for sharing experiences and hardships remotely.
Further, the guide gives insights into the chemical reactions triggered by physical touch and the sense of belonging, exemplifying the body's physical response to social interactions. It explains how positive social experiences can reduce stress by 50% and how the "happy hormone" oxytocin is released when hugging and touching.
If you want to learn more about this subject, you can find the guide in full at: https://seniorhealthcarehub.com/how-social-interaction-can-improve-mental-health/
