Staying Mentally Healthy As We Age

Staying Mentally Healthy As We Age
By Dr. Mikol S. Davis, Ed.D., psychologist and Carolyn L. Rosenblatt, R.N., B.S.N., Attorney, AgingParents.com
Special to BB[KC]

The problems of aging can alter the way we are accustomed to being in our world, and can be damaging to mental wellness unless we work at holding onto wellness. There are recognized components to mental health, and these are some of the basics.

Maintaining a sense of purpose in life is critical to maintaining mental wellness.
People sometimes lose their sense of purpose when they stop working or raising children. Loss of a spouse or loss of physical mobility can cause us to feel “adrift” or useless. Volunteering your time with something you enjoy may give you the reward of feeling appreciated, and can give you a sense of purpose. Volunteer opportunities exist everywhere. Choose an activity with which you are familiar, and with which you have confidence or knowledge.

Structure.
With retirement, loss of structure can directly affect self esteem. When structure is not imposed by school, family, or work, one must strive to create structure in life. Maintaining structure is much more difficult than simply creating it. It requires a different kind of self discipline than it does to cook the family meals or work for a paycheck. Having a place to go, something to look forward to, and a reason to get out of bed or out of the house is essential to maintaining mental health.


Having Fun.
Self acceptance is key to dealing with the diminished independence that often accompanies aging. We simply have to give up seeing ourselves as we once were, totally on our own, if we are to maintain mental wellness when aging changes us. Scheduling activity every day, especially fun activity is useful. Consider having fun as part of your job in maintaining a healthy senior lifestyle. In our work-obsessed society, this can be difficult, but give yourself the “okay” to enjoy all you can.

Creating or maintaining a sense of community.
Being a part of a community can serve a multitude of needs. Mental stimulation, socializing, a sense of spirituality, a forum for physical activity, and a feeling of belonging are some of the benefits of community. Isolation is the opposite of maintaining a sense of community. Getting out with a friend and enjoying seeing something new can help build and keep a sense of community with others, and fend off feeling lonely.

Mental wellness is a combination of a healthy spirit, in a healthy organism that makes the whole of us. Like any aspect of our health, staying mentally healthy takes work.




About Dr. Mikol S. Davis, Psychologist
Dr. Mikol Davis, Ed.D., has been a mental health care provider for 35 years. He obtained his doctoral degree in educational and counseling psychology from the University of San Francisco in 1980. He has extensive post-doctoral education in human learning, communication skills, interpersonal conflict, and psychopharmacology. He has a special interest in aging issues, particularly assessing elders’ capacity for making decisions. He has broad expertise in depression, anxiety, adolescent behavior, and addressing conflicts in families. He is a mediator of family disputes. Together with his wife, nurse-attorney Carolyn Rosenblatt, he is a founder of AgingParents.com in San Rafael, CA, which provides services and resources to those who are caring for aging loved ones. He has co-authored published articles on mental wellness and other subjects with his wife and business partner. He also maintains a general psychology practice in San Rafael. He blogs at agingparentssupport.com. You may contact him at (415) 459-1203 or by email drmikol@agingparents.com

About Carolyn L. Rosenblatt, R. N., B.S.N., Attorney at Law
Ms. Rosenblatt is a Registered Nurse and an Attorney, with over 40 years of combined experience in her two professions. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of San Francisco in 1971. She obtained her Juris Doctor degree from University of San Francisco School of Law in 1978. She has hands-on nursing experience with thousands of elders, as well as extensive experience in fighting for the rights of individuals as a lawyer.

Together with her husband, Dr. Mikol Davis, a psychologist, she is a founder of AgingParents.com, a resource for those who are caring for aging loved ones. She is a consultant to individuals and families struggling with aging-related issues, and is a mediator for families in conflict. She is the author of The Boomer’s Guide to Aging Parents, offering practical solutions to the most pressing legal and health care problems adult children of aging loved ones face. She has published many articles on topics related to aging in national legal and nursing journals. She serves as an expert columnist on numerous websites. She also blogs at eldermediationblog.com and agingparentssupport.com. You may contact Carolyn at (415)459-0413 or send her an email nurselawyer@agingparents.com




Copyright 2009 - Mikol S. Davis, Ed.D., and Carolyn L. Rosenblatt, R. N., Attorney at Law, www.AgingParents.com.