Mindfulness & Benefits for Senior Citizens

Another aspect of the 4Mind program that is very beneficial for senior citizens, is the mindfulness component. As people age their system increasingly wears down, even if they are in fairly good health. This “wearing

down” almost inevitably leads to physical health problems and, in many cases, to depression, and anxiety.

Seniors in today’s society are especially prone to loneliness and depression. This comes from the increasing isolation many of them feel, as they become less mobile and independent and as loved ones pass on and children move away to live their own lives. This can be especially prevalent in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities (Carers, 2017).

Mindfulness has been found to significantly help manage and improve such mental states. Increasing numbers of scientific studies suggest or prove that mindfulness-based therapies can ease many of the physical and psychological issues the elderly experience.[1]

For example, Young and Baime (2010)[2], reported a retrospective study of 141 participants, aged 70 years or older, who had previously participated in the Penn Program for Mindfulness course, where participants received instructions in mindfulness and had to take on a 45 minute daily mindful practice. The results showed clinically significant reductions in depression and anxiety in their subject sample.[3]

Furthermore, many older adults find themselves in nursing homes or in stay-at-home situations where they have little involvement in decision-making. They are told what to do and when to do it. As a result, they become disengaged in what goes on around them. This is especially true if they were strongly involved in decision-making when they were a parent or working. Mindfulness practice, through programs such as 4Mind, by contrast are empowering. They concentrate on abilities rather than worries.[4]

Some of the benefits of mindfulness for the elderly are[5]:

· Relaxation

· Strengthening of the immune system

· May improve sleep

· Activates the 'happy' part of the brain

· Sharpens and focuses the mind

[1] (Brigitte Zellner Keller, 2014) [2] As cited in (Brigitte Zellner Keller, 2014) [3] (Brigitte Zellner Keller, 2014) [4] (Mindfulness and the Elderly, 2015) [5] (Carers, 2017)