Ageing Well: Prioritising Your Mental Health and Mindset

For those enjoying life over 60, it can be easy, amidst busy days and perhaps caring for others through volunteering or looking after grandchildren, to let our own mental health take a backseat. But investing in ourselves, through small, consistent actions, can significantly enhance our outlook and overall quality of life. This Mental Health Awareness Week, we will explore practical ways to prioritise mental health, from the simplicity of connecting with a friend over coffee to establishing healthy sleep habits, empowering you to feel your best.

Social Connections

Familiar daily structure that often comes with work can fade in later years, and feelings of loneliness might creep in. It's a widespread issue, with Age UK reporting that almost a million older people in the UK often experience loneliness. With this in mind, staying well connected is important to prevent social isolation. Perhaps consider joining a local coffee morning, you may start to recognise familiar faces each time you join, allowing new friendships to blossom. This growing awareness of the importance of social connection has created sites such as www.meetup.com, where you can join and find local groups all interested in meeting new friends. 

For residents at Pegasus Homes, those opportunities are built-in with regular coffee mornings in their welcoming communal lounges. A 30-minute chat can be a real mood-booster with studies showing that one conversation per day with a friend can positively affect your mental health.

There are a plethora of welcoming groups to foster connection within Pegasus Homes communities. For example, within our Steepleton community in Tetbury, the resident-led Craft Club provides a platform for weekly social interaction centered around shared artistic pursuits. Local information sources, including village noticeboards, online community pages, and community centers like libraries and church noticeboards, can also help you to identify existing and upcoming community groups and people that you can connect with over shared interests.

Call Companions

Combatting loneliness in later life is a key focus for dedicated charities throughout the UK. Charities such as Re-enage are dedicated to combatting loneliness among older adults. To make this vision a reality, they organise monthly tea parties where all can come together, set up  telephone calls through their ‘Call Companions’ initiative, and engage in volunteer-led activities, ensuring that no one feels too old to make meaningful connections.

Changing Mindsets 

It’s easy for any of us to spend too much time worrying about what has or might happen. Being ‘present’ in the current moment  can help reduce stress. Focus on the positive aspects of your life and express appreciation for others; so often it’s the little things in life that can make all the difference, noticing the good things around you. 

Practicising mindfulness can help us to build a positive mental landscape, focusing  our attention on the present moment which serves as a powerful tool for reducing stress. You could try mindful activities, such as light gardening, yoga classes and meditation. Consciously directing our focus towards the positive aspects of our lives and intentionally expressing appreciation for the people around us can help foster a greater sense of contentment and strengthen our connections with others.

Sleep Well

Prioritising consistent sleep is a powerful way to enhance mental wellbeing at any stage of life, and it offers significant benefits for older adults. A regular sleep routine for older adults can stabilise mood and reduce the risk of mental health issues, since quality sleep allows the brain to process emotions and regulate responses; aiding stress management. 

For those that no longer work, it may be tempting to stop the alarm wake up calls, but getting into a regular pattern of what times you go to sleep and wake up, can have a positive impact on your sleep quality. Beyond mental health, consistent sleep can minimise daytime drowsiness and improve balance, contributing to a reduced risk of falls.

Meaningful Moments

Stimulating the mind through activities that present a healthy challenge, such as delving into puzzles that sharpen cognitive function, immersing oneself in a good book, or expressing yourself through creative arts, can encourage a sense of engagement and intellectual vitality which can really boost how we feel.

Rediscovering old hobbies can also bring a profound sense of joy and connection to one's past, rekindling passions and providing a comforting sense of continuity and familiarity in the present. These activities contribute to a more fulfilling and mentally resilient life as we age.

-

Community at Pegasus Homes

Designed with social connection at heart, Pegasus Homes communities take a holistic approach to supporting your wellness, which is our ultimate priority, so there’s plenty to invigorate your body and mind. Facilities vary with each community, but you could discover new interests and pursuits; make yoga part of your routine, chat with your neighbours in the communal lounge, pop into the library, or pamper yourself in the spa facilities. Whatever you prefer, taking time to look after yourself will become second nature. 

Seek Support 

If things are building up and you feel your mental health is declining, it is important to seek professional support. Older adults experiencing mental health challenges can seek support from local community mental health teams such as Age UK services, or helplines like the Silver Line, or your talk to your local GP. More information can be found on this dedicated page on the NHS website where you can find mental health support for older adults.