Protective factors for seniors help to promote overall well-being while reducing the risk of many of the negative outcomes associated with chronic disease and mental health issues. At Creekside at Shallowford, located only fourteen miles east of the heart of Chattanooga, we take protective factors seriously and leverage them to great effect.
If you'd like to learn more about what exactly protective factors are and how the attention we give them benefits our seniors, read on to find out more!
In short, protective factors are a set of characteristics, conditions, or resources that help to mitigate the worst of many of the trials our seniors face on a daily basis. Issues such as chronic disease, mental health, and social isolation tend to worsen when ignored. Implementing protective factors is a way of strategizing against negative outcomes before they come to pass.
Research and experience prove that it's worth heading these problems off at the pass, before they're able to develop in severity. The old adage, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," comes to mind. Awareness and forthright action do wonders in this regard, and this is what this article is all about.
To underline what protective factors are and how they're used to best effect, we've put some examples together for the sake of clarity.
Loneliness is dangerous for people of all ages, but is especially worth avoiding in old age. To combat feelings of alienation, we encourage our seniors to bolster their relationships with family, friends, and community members whenever possible. In terms of balms for mental health, participation in social activities helps to foster a sense of belonging and to fend off cognitive decline, particularly well.
We're social animals, and the need to socialise is deeply embedded within each of us. The need to socialise arises as depression if we go too long without it, and many people suffer in silence. There's no need to allow things to reach the point of desperation, however, or for the spirits of our seniors to ebb to such an extreme degree.
At Creekside at Shallowford, we support a rich and vibrant community and offer many varied senior social activities to ensure loneliness never becomes a serious issue. Our range of engaging programs, classes, and outings is an excellent example of some of the protective factors we have to promote emotional support for seniors.
One of the most important protective factors to consider is that of physical health. As we age, our bodies tend to become less robust in general, so it's important to look after them as well as we're able to. Fortunately, bolstering our physical well-being is relatively easy through the use of routine exercise.
Even long into old age, our bodies are more than capable of responding positively to physical activity. The exercise in question needn't be strenuous, either. A simple stroll through the park with a friend is sufficient for maintaining mobility, for example.
Adhering to a certain level of daily physical activity is enormously beneficial for seniors, as it helps to maintain balance, reduces the risk of falling, and improves cardiovascular health all at once. Physical activity is also important for mental well-being, as our minds and bodies are inextricably linked, and health in one often leads to improvement in the other.
The environment we live in plays a large role in how we feel in general, and a welcoming space complete with installations to help us navigate it is invaluable. At Creekside at Shallowford, we've made sure our grounds are accessible to everyone regardless of physical ability. We've also put plenty of thought into ensuring grab rails and non-slip floors are found wherever they're needed.
Our community is based around the idea that everyone deserves to feel safe and secure. Senior health and well-being are our top priority, and our attention to detail in this regard speaks for itself. We find our seniors appreciate feeling seen and knowing that if anything were to happen to them, help would be on hand immediately.
With 24/7 staff availability and emergency support systems, help is always at hand. We aim to provide peace of mind for our residents and their families, a goal that upholds senior mental health and an atmosphere of support that everyone can rely on.
Life isn't all about feeling safe and secure, however. Even in later life, we need to feel as if we're here for a reason, have interests to pursue, or can be of use somehow to our community. A lack of anything interesting to devote our time to is enough to make anyone feel listless, so continuing to live a fulfilling and active life is a protective factor we encourage.
Volunteering is a wonderful option for finding purpose, and is one of the more appreciated independent living benefits here at Creekside at Shallowford. Many of our seniors find positions they love in the local community, contributing at local food banks and tutoring children, for example. Volunteering with the Senior Corps is especially popular and helps our residents connect with a wide variety of opportunities and activities.
Many of our residents have lifelong passions they continue to enjoy, such as gardening, painting, or creative writing. These are often enjoyed in groups, where friendships are made and the feeling of community is solidified.
Hopefully, this article has helped to explain what protective factors are and how we implement them for the benefit of everyone at Creekside at Shallowford. We strongly believe that it's worth the effort to maintain healthy aging strategies for our seniors, and we're proud to say we're succeeding in our efforts.
If you're looking for charming pet-friendly apartments or an independent, hassle-free lifestyle that's budget-friendly, look no further!
If you have any questions about our philosophy regarding protective factors or our community in general, don't hesitate to reach out! We'd love to hear from you.