Depression and Exercise

If I were to ask what the number one cause for morbidity in older adults was, you would all intelligently answer hypertension or diabetes, cardiovascular disease or dementia, but unfortunately you would all be wrong. Studies have shown that the number one cause for morbidity in older adults is depression.

Let us start by exploring the definition of depression.

Depression is: ‘severe despondency and dejection, typically felt over a period of time and accompanied by feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy.’

Feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy can increase the rate at which older adults get sick, aka their morbidity.

Older adults can experience depression due to various reasons:

1. They are no longer able to successfully complete activities of daily living, such as washing themselves, walking long distances, changing their own clothing, etc
2. They can no longer work on a paid or volunteer basis
3. They can no longer help out their families as they used to
4. They become immobile
5. They experience injury due to falls
6. They become isolated and are no longer to partake in social activities

…And the list goes on.

A number of things can be done to help ward off depression from older adults and at the top of that list is exercise. Exercise, not drug intake, is the most effective way to assist older adults in dealing with depression.

Exercise helps to:

1. Manage stress and improve mood: exercise releases endorphins into the blood stream that is used to improve mood and lower stress levels
2. Strengthens weak muscles: repeated strength training activities will enable the older adult to get stronger
3. Prevent osteoporosis: exercise also helps to strengthen the bones which helps to prevent the weakening and deterioration that occurs during osteoporosis
4. Lowers the risk of adverse health conditions: exercise helps to ward off conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Heart disease, Diabetes, Hypertension, Obesity
5. Builds endurance and stamina: consistent cardiovascular exercise improves the functioning capacity of the heart and lungs, which increases ones endurance
6. Improves sleep: the body will be able to relax and fall into a deeper more relax sleep
7. Boosts confidence: with increase muscular strength and increase cardiovascular ability, an older adult will be more confident partaking in activities of daily living
8. Reduces the risk of mental illness: rates of depression will be greatly decreased
9. Improves blood circulation: with improves heart capacity, blood will therefore be moved throughout the system more readily for the older adult, this will improve immune function, healing and oxygen delivery.

It is important to ensure that the older adult in your life is participating in regular exercise every day, be it through walking, strength training, yoga, tai chi, or any other organized or unorganized activity. This will ensure that they will live a full and healthy life, with reduced chance of ailments and less or no depression.

If you are looking for ideas of how to keep the older adult in your life active and simple exercise that you can do with them, follow Liberty Nursing and Support Services blog and Facebook. We will be posting exercise ideas once a month. And if you have any questions or are in need of the service that we provide please contact us or comment below.

What activities are the older adults in your life taking part in? Comment below.

Retirement Adjustment

Wake up, get the kids ready for school, pack lunches, make breakfast, get ready for work, send kids to school, head off to work, leave work, pick up kids, have dinner, get ready for bed, sleep and repeat. This routine, of course with a few changes here and there, is familiar to many adults up to the age of retirement. Then…silence and questions start to kick in: what do we do now?, where do we go?, when is our next doctor’s appointment?

Retirement does take some adjustments and getting used to. Many scholars and researcher have come up with different theories about Retirement Adjustment and the various stages older adults go through during their retirement years.

Atchely’s Theory of Retirement Adjustment

1. Pre-retirement:

This is the period of time when an individual prepares his/herself for retirement. Some may opt to go to counselling, look over their financial situation, prepare a monthly schedule of things to do, look into workshops or activities to keep their minds occupied etc.

2. Honeymoon:

This is the time for the retirement party; acknowledgement from well wishers, smiling faces, and balloons. The retiree may even choose to go on a trip to officially culminate one stage of life as they move into the next stage.

3. Retirement Routine:

At this stage the individual has set into their daily routine. No longer do they have to clock in for work every day. They may however choose to volunteer their time helping out their community and/or taking part in fitness classes such as Tai Chi, Yoga, Aqua Fitness, attending lunch dates, spending time with grandchildren and so on.

4. Rest and Relaxation:

The new retiree may choose to spend their days doing as minimal as possible. They may take the time to enjoy the switch from their once hectic lifestyle to one that they are now in total control of.

5. Disenchantment:

With or without a clear schedule the individual may get bored with their current routine. They may no longer see the need to plan activities daily or become bored of the schedule that they have made for themselves. They no longer are interested in spending money or going on trips.

6. Re-orientation:

In this stage an individual will seek to make changes to their current routine. They are disenchanted, bored and tired and will look for something else to do in which they can achieve true joy.

7. Routine or Stability:

There will come a point in any retiree’s life when they will find a routine that they are completely content with. They will happily do those activities daily or weekly, along with their scheduled doctor’s appointments and checkups. They will happily stick to this routine until they are physically or mentally unable to do it on their own.

As with any aspects of life, retirement takes some adjusting too. Older adults need to take the time to plan accordingly for their years of retirement. Family members, younger and older, can be of great assistance to those approaching or in their retirement years. They can find activities for the older adult to do, or simply be available for lunch or dinner dates. The focus for the retirement years should always be happiness and contentment. If these needs are met the individual will be able to make the necessary adjustments successfully.

Inspirational. Insanely Fit 66 year old!

Brian Wallace is 66 years and insanely Fit. Weight training for over 40 years he is an inspiration to many and is proof that age is no barrier when keeping fit and strong.

HIRING: Personal Support Workers/ Health Care Aids

Liberty Nursing and Support Services International is seeking Personal Support Workers/ Health Care Aids.

POSITION SUMMARY:
Liberty Nursing and Support Services International is currently seeking Personal Support Workers. These positions will assist our elderly clients in the activities of personal care, household management and generalized services as per the client care plan and in conjunction with Liberty Nursing and Support Services International policies and procedures.

REQUIREMENTS:
– Must be PSW Certificate
– Current CPR and First Aid Certificate
– Availability to work days, evenings and weekends
– Some knowledge of household management skills
– Access to the vehicle would be an asset, but not required
– Working knowledge of assistive aids
– Ability to communicate effectively (verbal/written) and exercise good judgment

Interested candidates may forward a letter of interest. Please note that meal preparation is also included in job specification.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Start Date: ASAP
Please submit your resume via to info@libertynursingstlucia.com
http://libertynursingstlucia.com/home.html