Fighting Depression With Assisted Living

Fighting depression is an important part of staying healthy while we age. For many seniors, the answer lies within assisted living. This might seem like it doesn't make much sense, but in reality, it is quite simple. Many senior citizens face depression because their lifestyles have changed. For instance, they may have recently lost a spouse or another close family member. Or, they might feel isolated because of the difficulty that they have leaving their home. While depression is an organic illness, it is quite possible to treat it via other methods besides antidepressants. Psychiatrists generally approach their treatment of depression through a three-fold manner: medication, exercise, and counseling.

Living in an assisted living facility most closely resembles the counseling section of the generally accepted treatment approach. Being surrounded by their peers, it is more difficult to feel the isolation that one might experience if they were cooped up in their home all day. And while being around people that care for you might not exactly replace a lost loved one, it can still give you the feeling of self worth that may have begun to disintegrate. Assisted living really is therapeutic for many senior citizens because of this reason.

The importance of the social aspect of assisted living cannot be overstated. There are many studies out there that show that being around your peers can help fight off depression. There are also studies that indicate that good mental health will often translate into better physical health, too. By staying ahead with your mental health, you are going to be taking better care of your total body health. This is a very important part of aging in a healthy manner.

Exercise also is a vital part of staying depression free. The science behind this is actually pretty simple. Prolonged aerobic activity elevates levels of serotonin within the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter chemical that resides within our brains. When serotonin levels are up, the electrical impulses that our neurons (brain cells) use to communicate are sent much more easily. A fast firing brain is less likely to be a depressed brain.

What does this have to do with assisted living? Well, people are much more likely to exercise when their peers are doing so too. In assisted living, they often facilitate group exercise activities a few times a week. More importantly, in a regulated setting like an assisted living facility, there are activities designed expressly for senior citizens. While an elderly person might struggle to exercise on their own, in a secure place complete with trained supervision, exercise becomes a whole lot safer.

These combined features make assisted living residents much less likely to suffer from depression. It won't cure everyone, but it severely reduces the mental stress that someone is under. This can only have positive results.