Mental Wellness Archives - FirstLantic Blog

30 04, 2024

Seniors and Mental Health Awareness Month

Kate Jordan2024-04-30T12:19:02-04:00April 30th, 2024|Categories: Mental Wellness|

As May unfolds, so does Mental Health Awareness Month, an annual opportunity to underscore the significance of mental well-being across all age groups. While mental health discussions often spotlight youth and adults, the mental well-being of seniors is equally imperative. Aging brings its own set of challenges, and addressing seniors' mental health needs is paramount to ensuring their overall well-being and quality of life. Understanding Seniors' Mental Health: Seniors face various factors that can affect their mental health. Social isolation, loss of loved ones, chronic health conditions, financial concerns, and cognitive decline are among the challenges that can impact their mental well-being. Additionally, stigma surrounding mental health within older populations may deter them from seeking support or discussing their struggles openly. Importance of [...]

1 08, 2022

Four Ways to Keep Your Brain Healthy As You Age

Patricia Neuray2022-12-19T21:10:30-05:00August 1st, 2022|Categories: Aging, Alzheimers, Brain Health, Dementia, Health, Mental Wellness, Mindset|Tags: #Alzheimers, #BrainHealth, #FirstLanticHealthcare, #Health, #HealthyBrain, #HealthyDiet, #HealthyEating, #HomeHealthcare, #MentalWellness, depression|

Have you ever believed the familiar adage that you can't teach an old dog new tricks? That you are simply past the point of being able to learn different things once you reach a certain age? If you have entertained those thoughts, then FirstLantic has some information that might change your mind. Scientific evidence shows that while for most people, raw mental horsepower declines after the age of 30, knowledge and expertise keep increasing even beyond the age of 80. Data also suggests that drive and curiosity are catalysts for new skill acquisition, even during late adulthood. And intellectually engaged people tend to be lifelong learners regardless of their age. The more intellectually curious, the more they continue to gain knowledge, including vocabulary. Another [...]

14 06, 2022

Five Challenges Facing Older Americans

Patricia Neuray2022-12-19T20:57:38-05:00June 14th, 2022|Categories: Aging, At Home Healthcare, Loneliness and Isolation, Mental Wellness|Tags: #homecare, #HomeCompanions, #HomeHealthcare, #Seniors, #Stress, depression, FirstLantic, Healthcare|

Part One in a Two-Part Series Turning on the news these days can certainly make it seem like the world is collapsing. And while the negative headlines usually get the attention, there is no doubt that there are significant social unrest issues that seem to have been exacerbated by the pandemic. But that isn’t the only difficulty older Americans are facing. In part one of this two-part series, FirstLantic Healthcare, looks at some of the challenges facing our elderly population today. In part two, we will examine some of the possible solutions. Shortages in Geriatric Healthcare Professionals For the first time in our history, older adults are projected to be the largest demographic group. In 2034, there will be 77 million seniors [...]

31 05, 2022

Five Reasons Pets Are Good For Your Health

Patricia Neuray2022-12-19T03:11:45-05:00May 31st, 2022|Categories: #Stress, Aging, At Home Healthcare, Health, heart health, Loneliness and Isolation, Mental Wellness, Pets|Tags: #FurryFriends, #Health, #homecare, #HomeCompanions, #PetCompanions, #Pets, #Seniors, FirstLantic, senior loneliness|

In addition to May being Mental Health Awareness Month, we also celebrated National Pet Month. At first, you may not think they have anything in common, but for anyone who has ever had a pet in their life, you know how good they can be for your state of mind. In fact, a scientific study says owning a dog is linked with living longer. Ten studies that included more than three million participants showed that dog owners had a 24% risk reduction for death from any cause. But how do pets positively affect overall wellness? FirstLantic, a company devoted to quality healthcare, lists five benefits furry friends have on our health and well-being. Pet owners, especially those with dogs, often take advantage of the positive [...]

17 05, 2022

Five of the Best Mental Wellness Podcasts

Patricia Neuray2022-12-19T20:59:22-05:00May 17th, 2022|Categories: #Stress, Aging, Loneliness and Isolation, mental health, Mental Wellness, Mental Wellness Podcasts|Tags: #Anxiety, #caregiver, #homecare, #HomeHealthcare, #loneliness, #MentalHealth, #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth, #SeniorLoneliness, #Seniors, #Stress, dementia, depression, Healthcare, mental wellness|

Since 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been celebrated in May. The goal is to reach as many people as possible and provide foundational knowledge about mental health and what people can do if they are concerned about themselves or a loved one. Over the last two years, feelings of loneliness and isolation have increased due to the pandemic. And there is no doubt that many of us are still struggling with anxiety or stress as we work towards finding the new “normal”. The important thing to remember is that you are not alone. If you are experiencing some of these issues, you might benefit from a “safe space” — somewhere where you can retreat (at your leisure) to hear from experts or other people [...]

1 02, 2022

Alzheimer’s Treatment – What is the Future?

Patricia Neuray2022-12-19T20:44:31-05:00February 1st, 2022|Categories: Aging, Alzheimers, Dementia, Home Caregivers, Mental Wellness|Tags: #Aging #AgeRelatedConditions, #Alzheimers, #AlzheimersResearch, #homecare, #HomeHealthcare, #Seniors, dementia, FirstLantic, mental wellness|

New Alzheimer's treatments seem painfully slow to emerge for those currently living with the disease or watching a loved one suffer. Medications presently available temporarily improve symptoms of memory loss, thinking, and reasoning, but they don’t stop the decline and death of brain cells. Discovering how to control that decline is akin to the holy grail in Alzheimer’s research and would offer millions of people hope. Although there is no guarantee that a cure is imminent, there is a reason for optimism. FirstLantic explores five different Alzheimer's treatment paths in the research phase that are showing promise. Saracatinib. A drug initially developed as a possible cancer treatment is now being tested for Alzheimer's treatment. In studies, Saracatinib turned off a protein that allowed synapses [...]

6 12, 2021

You’re Only as Young as You Feel

Patricia Neuray2022-12-19T20:50:05-05:00December 6th, 2021|Categories: Growth Mindset, Health, mental health, Mental Wellness, Mindset|Tags: #GrowthMindset, #Mindset, #Seniors, #ThinkingPositive, mental wellness|

We have all heard the old adage that it’s all in your head. But what if it really is? What if your mindset could literally change your life for the better? Well, the reality is that it can. At least the right attitude can. Scientists have done a vast amount of research on how the mind affects the body. And it becomes even more critical as you age. And that’s when that other cliché turns out to be correct as well; “you’re only as old as you feel." In fact, studies have shown that people with a positive mindset about aging live on average 7.5 years longer than those without because attitude affects happiness, health, the speed of the aging process, and even how long we [...]

15 11, 2021

Why Insomnia Increases as We Age

Patricia Neuray2022-12-19T20:51:37-05:00November 15th, 2021|Categories: Aging, Health, Insomnia, mental health, Mental Wellness|Tags: #AgeRelatedConditions, #Insomnia, #Seniors, depression, eating healthy, FirstLantic, Healthcare, mental wellness|

Do you ever wish you could literally sleep like a baby again? Sleep does not come easy for many of us, and it becomes even more problematic as we age. Of course, that's not true for everyone, like my husband snoring next to me as I write this. However, it is a fact that the older we get, the more problems we have falling asleep and staying asleep. In fact, researchers estimate that between 40% and 70% of older adults have chronic sleep issues, and up to half of those cases may go undiagnosed. So why do sleep patterns change as we age, and what can we do about it? Changes in Circadian Rhythm There are many theories as to why sleep patterns [...]

19 10, 2021

The Resilience of Seniors

Patricia Neuray2022-12-19T20:07:01-05:00October 19th, 2021|Categories: Aging, mental health, Mental Wellness|Tags: #COVID, #DrBeach, #MentalWellness, #OpenMindHealth, #Seniors, depression|

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everyone’s lives in innumerable ways. However, for many seniors, it has come at a highly vulnerable point in their life. Seniors are already more susceptible to contagious disease because of decreased immunity and other age-related health issues. However, add social isolation and anxiety about the health of friends and family, and you have an assumption that seniors would become increasingly depressed. In fact, studies show that the older population has been able to withstand the effects of COVID on their mental health much more than younger people. For example, in August 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a survey noting that the 933 participants aged 65 years or older reported significantly lower percentages of an anxiety [...]

20 07, 2021

How Seniors Can Overcome Anxiety

Kate Jordan2022-12-19T20:34:42-05:00July 20th, 2021|Categories: Health, mental health, Mental Wellness|Tags: reduce stress and anxiety, Senior Anxiety, senior hobbies, senior mental health|

Anxiety is a common mental health problem for many different age groups. And some seniors, who face issues such as deteriorating health, financial concerns, and limited mobility, can be even more susceptible to anxiety. Plus, add the fact that seniors are very vulnerable to COVID-19, further aggravating the feelings of worry and stress. To help alleviate those concerns, FirstLantic.com offers some practical ways to help seniors overcome anxiety. Cultivate a Strong Social Network Increased isolation, especially during a pandemic, could exacerbate anxiety and loneliness. Some seniors even have to contend with limited mobility and losing loved ones, making it very hard to feel part of a community. With states and cities now opening up restrictions, seniors should take advantage of interacting with [...]