Seniors Accentuate the Positive in Life in Palm Springs, CA

October 10th, 2010 | Author: lisa

Seniors Accentuate the Positive in Life
Many adults expect to feel a sense of loss, or even depression, as they enter old age. But rather than experiencing unhappiness about the effects of aging, many seniors report an increased sense of peace and contentment. Instead of feeling limited, they feel liberated.

Related studies
As the San Jose Mercury News notes in “Seniors discover upswing in emotional health,” Laura Carstensen, director of Stanford University’s Center on Longevity, has spent most of her career studying this paradox of aging. Even though seniors’ physical and mental health are declining, they report that they are happier and better adjusted.

Carstensen calls this phenomenon “socioemotional selectivity.” The theory states that as people age and realize that their time is limited, their priorities begin to change. Thus, seniors set aside the worries of their youth and middle adulthood to focus on the things that matter most to them: close family and friends, valued activities and endeavors, and treasured hobbies. Older adults limit their stress levels by not taking on new challenges and adventures, instead spending their time on the things they truly enjoy and that bring meaning and purpose to their lives. They let go of fear, frustration, anger and negativity; instead, they seek experiences that provide positive emotional benefits. As a result, seniors feel happier, more stable, better connected and more adapted.

Multiple studies support Carstensen’s theory, including a 2003 report in Psychological Science that found that seniors pay less attention to photos of people with angry or sad expressions than to photos of people with happy expressions. In addition, a 2007 study in Aging & Mental Health found that seniors’ diaries report less unhappiness than younger people’s diaries report.

Theories of positive aging
Berngtsonetal’s Handbook of Theories of Aging, Chapter 18, notes that “healthy emotional aging — characterized by an overall enhancement of emotional experience across the life span — is part of normal human development.” The authors expand on Carstensen’s socioemotional selectivity theory and discuss positivity in cognitive processing as methods that older adults use to improve their emotional well-being as they age.

Socioemotional selectivity theory
Carstensen’s theory cites the perception of time as a key factor in determining motivation. Younger adults, who see their remaining time as relatively unlimited, are more motivated to invest in their futures. Thus they are willing to pursue goals related to increasing their knowledge, and they are willing to delay the payoffs until a later time. Conversely, older adults see their remaining time as more limited and are therefore less motivated to pursue intellectual goals with delayed payoffs. Seniors seek more immediate gratification, such as that obtained through emotional goals.

Positivity in cognitive processing
It’s well established that how we think affects how we feel. For example, simply smiling can actually make a person happier. Older adults can use this approach to focus on positive emotions and suppress negative emotions, to enhance their overall emotional well-being. By directing their intellectual resources toward their emotional goals, seniors can improve their present emotional state.

Enjoying the “golden years”
Rather than longing for the “good old days,” seniors are enjoying their golden years. According to a study conducted by ExtendHealth, a Medicare exchange provider, only 3 percent of 471 retirees surveyed said they miss their jobs, and only 2 percent said they have too much free time.

Seniors keep busy with a multitude of positive activities, including the following responses to ExtendHealth’s survey:

•42 percent spend more time with family, especially children and grandchildren
•39 percent travel more
•32 percent spend more time on hobbies
•27 percent do volunteer work
•22 percent engage in leisure activities
•14 percent spend more time with friends
•10 percent have started a new career
Notes for caregivers and professionals
The fact that older adults often see their lives in a positive light provides a great opportunity for those who work with seniors. Caregivers and professionals can often provide resources that support seniors’ connections to their families, friends, community and social networks and thus enhance their emotional well-being.

In addition, because seniors often make decisions on more emotional than intellectual levels, it’s important to make positive emotional connections with them. Caregivers and professionals can benefit by presenting their services as positive enhancements to older adults’ lives.

ComForcare Home Care Services-Coachella Vallet & Palm Springs, Ca area & Lisa Marie Blaskie RN, CCM, CSA provides home care & elder care in-home services in Riverside/Palm Springs/Hemet area. In addition Lisa is a Case Manager and works with seniors & their families To get help in selecting other care options for an aging loved one call @ 800.993.2945