Mental health is just as important in older age as at any other time of life. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 15% of adults aged 60 and over suffer from a mental disorder. Of this population, only 6% account for neurological disorders and 2% involve substance abuse. The remaining thousands of older adults in this group are suffering from depression or anxiety.
Western medicine has cultivated a variety of drugs to help one manage these mental barriers including antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, stimulants, and antipsychotics. These medications, however, can be considered dangerous when taken or prescribed incorrectly. As an alternative, many older adults are referring to ancient eastern solutions for mental health.
Meditation is one of these solutions. More and more doctors are agreeing that meditation in the most powerful tool for mental, physical, and emotional health. According to a series of tests conducted at John Hopkins in 2013, meditation can help you:
- Sharpen your focus: Meditation synchronizes the left and right brain hemispheres to improve brain function, focus, creativity, and wit.
- Improve Memory: Meditation activates dominant hubs of long & short term memory storage including the hippocampus and frontal lobe. This can help seniors retrieve long lost memories and refine long & short term memory recall.
- Improve Digestion: Deep breathing exercises boost oxygen in blood circulation to help all organs, including the stomach and intestines. Incorporating meditation to one’s daily routine can help seniors relieve digestive problems.
- Kill stress: Many experts believe meditation to be the brain’s “fountain of youth.” Consciously emptying one’s mind can help let go of external stressors to receive a limitless number of these benefits.
- Make your brain happy: Meditation also activates the “feel-good” prefrontal cortex in the brain to refresh ones zeal for life.
How does one meditate anyway? Luckily, there are many forms of meditation including breath-awareness, mindfulness, mantra repetition, loving-kindness projection, transcendental meditation, and more. Many senior living facilities who have begun incorporating group meditation sessions have reported both spiritual experiences and heightened mindfulness in older adults. If you or a loved one suffers from mental health issues, consider meditation a powerful tool to try before resorting to traditional medicine. WellPath Partners can help connect you or your loved one with the best senior resources tailored to individual needs.
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By Prithvi Chauhan
