Protective Factors That Support Senior Well-Being

When you're younger, you can get away with not taking measures to look after yourself, including protective factors that guard long-term well-being. But in later life, the difference between those who take a protective approach to wellness and those who don't gets more obvious.

According to the CDC, older adults experiencing social isolation or loneliness have about a 50% higher risk of developing dementia.

Understanding these protective factors is more important than ever for seniors in Lafayette, IN. Are you interested in learning more about what protective factors are and how they work? Read on to learn more about this crucial senior wellness topic.

What are Protective Factors

But what exactly are these protective factors? Essentially, it's a versatile constellation of methods to improve the health outcomes and quality of life of older adults. Think of things that counteract illness, whether it's mental or physical, and things that create strong social connections and keep seniors active, engaged, and financially secure.

Protective factors such as social support, regular exercise, and preventative health care measures can greatly improve older adults' well-being and significantly reduce the possibility of conditions like dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

Additive Approach

An important principle to keep in mind when thinking about protective factors is that they're intended to be additive, meaning that the more you incorporate them into your routine, the greater the wellness benefits.

Societal Impact

Protective factors help boost individual well-being, but they're also good for wider society here in Lafayette, IN. When seniors remain active and connected, they're less likely to require emergency medical care, which reduces the strain on the healthcare system. With fewer people visiting the emergency department, the staff have more time to focus on the unavoidable cases.

So, in short, protective factors are a great investment for both individual and community vitality here in Lafayette, IN.

Now, let's look at some of the key protective factors and how local seniors can incorporate these things effectively into their daily routine. One of the most important protective factors is having social support and emotional support for seniors. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, lacking social connection can increase the risk for premature death as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.

Having meaningful relationships and frequent social interaction acts as a shield for senior mental health against loneliness and depression, while also keeping some more serious health conditions at bay by maintaining cognitive skills for longer through interacting with friends and family. Seniors can make their brains more resilient to memory-related illnesses like Alzheimer's.

The Importance of Regular Exercise

Regular exercise is also a proven protective factor and one of the healthy aging strategies. Maintaining mobility is key for seniors, as poor mobility can lead to falls, and once a senior has fallen, the next one is more likely.

The best protection against falls is to never fall over in the first place, but only seniors who have strong legs and a strong core will have the required balance to avoid falling accidents during retirement.

According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, only 14.4% of adults age 65 and older met both the aerobic and muscle-strengthening guidelines in 2022, so most seniors could benefit from getting more regular physical activity.

But it's not all about sports clubs and taking brisk walks. Mental engagement is another crucial area in the protective factors approach. Seniors could consider doing things like:

Reading
Solving puzzles
Other senior social activities, such as discussion groups

Such hobbies can provide a sense of purpose and accomplishment while keeping the brain suitably engaged. Feeling connected and engaged to a craft or cause can significantly improve an older person's outlook on life, particularly if they've been feeling depressed and feel like they're lacking purpose.

Staying Safe Online

Another factor to consider is digital Literacy and security in a world increasingly influenced by AI simulations and artificial intelligence. Simulations and unbelievably realistic fake content. It's never been more important that seniors understand the fundamentals of online safety.

Imagine a senior getting a call from somebody who sounds exactly like their grandson. They're clearly distressed and need help, and they ask for a significant sum of money to be transferred to an unfamiliar bank account.

Sadly, it's becoming possible for internet scammers to clone somebody's voice using AI tools. All they need is a sample of the person's voice, and then machine learning algorithms scan the sound waves and produce a convincing imitation.

Of course, these scams are still easy to see through if you understand criminals' methods. So teaching seniors some basic skills, such as:

Never transfer money to foreign bank accounts
Recognizing the telltale indications of an AI simulation
Verifying any urgent money request by calling the person back on a known, trusted number

Learning how to use smartphones and laptops also opens up a new world of hobbies and socializing. For example, someone who learns to use a smartphone could then use their device to join their Zoom call with family, or they could start playing chess online.

There are an incredible number of protective possibilities when someone knows how to use the internet.

See the Protective Factors Approach in Action

The best protective approaches are those that nourish the mind, body, and spirit, aligning with protective factors that support resilience. You can't simply ignore one of these aspects and not suffer for it. Seniors experiencing health problems, loneliness, or low mood should review their daily activities and consider adding more protective activities.

Every senior is unique, and here at Digby Place Assisted Living, we help our residents find a protective approach that works well for them.

We have a variety of amenities, activities, and events for seniors, ensuring that there is always joy and purpose every day. If you want to see how we facilitate thriving in retirement, come and see our supportive community for yourself.

We're also proud to offer a significant discount on our assisted living accommodation for our proud military veterans, highlighting assisted living benefits.